Acute cardiac care & resuscitation
Oxygenation metrics have limited prognostic value in non-asphyxial hypothermic cardiac arrest
Authors' conclusion
A single arterial blood gas analysis is unreliable for determining prognosis in patients with non-asphyxial hypothermic cardiac arrest. Initial hypoxemia does not preclude a favorable neurological outcome; therefore, oxygenation metrics should not serve as sole exclusion criterion for ECPR in hypothermic cardiac arrest.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with severe accidental hypothermia (core temperature ≤28 °C) and hypothermic cardiac arrest treated with ECPR, 2014–2025
- Participants
- 89 adults
- Outcome
- Survival to hospital discharge with good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2)
- Follow-up
- Hospital discharge
Methodological detailsnational registry
- National registry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Initial arterial oxygenation as predictor of favourable neurological outcome
Temperature-corrected severe hypoxemia <50 mmHg in patients with a good neurological outcome
two-thirds
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Oxygenation metrics have limited prognostic value in non-asphyxial hypothermic cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. Published 4 December 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it