Acute cardiac care & resuscitation
The apnea interval: Ventilation interruption during tracheal intubation and its association with cardiac arrest resuscitation care and outcome
Authors' conclusion
In this VF-OHCA cohort, shorter apnea intervals (≤60 s) were associated with greater likelihood of favorable outcomes. Given its variability and relationship to outcomes, the apnea interval may be a modifiable measure to improve OHCA survival.
Study context
- Population
- Adult ventricular fibrillation (VF) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients who underwent attempted tracheal intubation prior to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
- Participants
- 254 participants
- Exposure
- Apnea interval
- Outcome
- Overall outcomes
Methodological detailsmultivariable logistic regression, metropolitan EMS system (2017-2020)
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Metropolitan EMS system (2017-2020)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Achieved ROSC
151
59%
Survived to discharge
71
28%
Favorable survival
67
26%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ROSC, survival, favorable survival by apnea interval · unadjusted and adjusted analyses
ROSC
Survival
Favorable survival
- ROSC, survival, favorable survival by apnea interval: p < 0.05 for each comparison
Apnea interval during attempted tracheal intubation
- Median apnea interval
- 84 s (64-113 s)
Chest compression fraction
- Median overall
- 85%
- Median during the apnea interval
- 87%
Baseline characteristics
- Median age
- 65 years
- Female
- 18%
- Tracheal intubation success
- 98%
Original publication
The apnea interval: Ventilation interruption during tracheal intubation and its association with cardiac arrest resuscitation care and outcome. Resuscitation. Published 17 March 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it