Background Pediatric nephrologists are rare in the United States; many children with poisoning needing extracorporeal treatments may not have timely access to care. This study compared outcomes in children receiving extracorporeal treatments for poisoning at centers with and without a pediatric nephrologist. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients aged <= 17 years reported to an American poison center covering three upper midwestern states during 2000-2024. Results We identified 72 patients: 54 received extracorporeal treatments at a hospital with pediatric nephrologists, and 18 patients aged 14-17 years (minimum weight, 35 kg) received extracorporeal treatments at hospitals staffed solely by adult nephrologists. The most common responsible poisons were toxic alcohols (10/18, 55%) and salicylates (4/18, 22%). Children receiving extracorporeal treatments from adult nephrologists more commonly (P <0.001) received intermittent hemodialysis (18/18, 100%) compared to pediatric nephrologists (31/54, 57%). Conversely, children treated by pediatric nephrologists more commonly (P <0.05) received continuous kidney replacement therapy (28/54, 52%) compared to adult nephrologists (0/18). We found no difference (P = 0.1) in mortality between the children treated by pediatric nephrologists (9/54, 17%) compared to those treated by adult nephrologists (0/18). Discussion Teenage children commonly received hemodialysis from adult nephrologists for poisoning and had similar outcomes to those treated by pediatric nephrologists. Conclusions These data suggest adult nephrologists can successfully perform extracorporeal treatments for poisoning in teenage children.

BACKGROUND:Sepsis remains the leading cause of in-hospital death and one of the costliest inpatient conditions in the United States, while treatment delays worsen outcomes. We sought to determine factors and outcomes associated with a missed emergency physician (EP) diagnosis of sepsis. METHODS:We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective single-center observational cohort of undifferentiated, critically ill medical patients (September 2020-May 2022). EP gestalt of suspicion for sepsis was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS; 0%-100%) at 15 and 60 min post-patient arrival. The primary outcome was an explicit hospital discharge diagnosis of sepsis that was present on arrival. We calculated test characteristics for clinically relevant subgroups and examined factors associated with initial and persistent missed diagnoses. Associations with process (antibiotics) and clinical (mortality) outcomes were assessed after adjusting for severity. RESULTS:Among 2484 eligible patients, 275 (11%) met the primary outcome. A VAS score of ≥50 (more likely than not of being septic) at 15 min demonstrated sensitivity 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-0.87) and specificity 0.85 (95% CI 0.83-0.86). Older age, hypoxia, hypotension, renal insufficiency, leukocytosis, and both high and low temperature were significantly associated with lower accuracy due to reduced specificity, but maintained sensitivity. Of 48 (17%) and 23 (8%) missed cases at 15 and 60 min, elevated lactate, leukocytosis, bandemia, and positive urinalysis were more common in the missed sepsis compared to nonsepsis cases. Missed diagnoses were associated with median (interquartile range) delay of 48 (27-64) min in antibiotic administration but were not independently associated with inpatient mortality as risk ratios remained close to 1 across VAS scores. CONCLUSIONS:This prospective single-academic center study identified patient subgroups at risk of impaired diagnostic accuracy of sepsis, with clinicians often overdiagnosing rather than underdiagnosing these groups. Prompt abnormal laboratory test results can "rescue" initial missed diagnoses, serving as potential clinician- and systems-level intervention points to reduce missed diagnoses. Missed diagnoses delayed antibiotics, but not mortality after controlling for severity of illness.

Study objectiveCompare physician gestalt to existing screening tools for identifying sepsis in the initial minutes of presentation when time-sensitive treatments must be initiated.MethodsThis prospective observational study conducted with consecutive encounter sampling took place in the emergency department (ED) of an academic, urban, safety net hospital between September 2020 and May 2022. The study population included ED patients who were critically ill, excluding traumas, transfers, and self-evident diagnoses. Emergency physician gestalt was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 100 at 15 and 60 minutes after patient arrival. The primary outcome was an explicit sepsis hospital discharge diagnosis. Clinical data were recorded for up to 3 hours to compare Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), quick SOFA (qSOFA), Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), and a logistic regression machine learning model using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) for variable selection. The screening tools were compared using receiver operating characteristic analysis and area under the curve calculation (AUC).ResultsA total of 2,484 patient-physician encounters involving 59 attending physicians were analyzed. Two hundred seventy-five patients (11%) received an explicit sepsis discharge diagnosis. When limited to available data at 15 minutes, initial VAS (AUC 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88, 0.92) outperformed all tools including LASSO (0.84; 95% CI 0.82 to 0.87), qSOFA (0.67; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.71), SIRS (0.67; 95% 0.64 to 0.70), SOFA (0.67; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.70), and MEWS (0.66; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.69). Expanding to data available at 60 minutes did not meaningfully change results.ConclusionAmong adults presenting to an ED with an undifferentiated critical illness, physician gestalt in the first 15 minutes of the encounter outperformed other screening methods in identifying sepsis.

Background Physician empathy has been linked to increased patient satisfaction, improved patient outcomes and reduced provider burnout. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve physician empathy and trust in the ED setting. Methods Physician participants from six emergency medicine residencies in the US were studied from 2018 to 2019 using a pre–post, quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design with randomisation at the site level. Intervention participants at three hospitals received an educational intervention, guided by acognitivemap (the ‘empathy circle’). This intervention was further emphasised by the use of motivational texts delivered to participants throughout the course of the study. The primary outcome was change in E patient perception of resident empathy (Jefferson scale of patient perception of physician empathy (JSPPPE) and Trust in Physicians Scale (Tips)) before (T1) and 3–6 months later (T2). Results Data were collected for 221 residents (postgraduate year 1–4.) In controls, the mean (SD) JSPPPE scores at T1 and T2 were 29 (3.8) and 29 (4.0), respectively (mean difference 0.8, 95% CI: −0.7 to 2.4, p=0.20, paired t-test). In the intervention group, the JSPPPE scores at T1 and T2 were 28 (4.4) and 30 (4.0), respectively (mean difference 1.4, 95% CI: 0.0 to 2.8, p=0.08). In controls, the TIPS at T1 was 65 (6.3) and T2 was 66 (5.8) (mean difference −0.1, 95% CI: −3.8 to 3.6, p=0.35). In the intervention group, the TIPS at T1 was 63 (6.9) and T2 was 66 (6.3) (mean difference 2.4, 95% CI: 0.2 to 4.5, p=0.007). Hierarchical regression revealed no effect of time×group interaction for JSPPPE (p=0.71) nor TIPS (p=0.16). Conclusion An educational intervention with the addition of text reminders designed to increase empathic behaviour was not associated with a change in patient-perceived empathy, but was associated with a modest improvement in trust in physicians.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system plays a critical role in the US health care safety net, performing over 16 million transports per year.1 Although often treated as a publicly funded good, only two thirds of EMS agencies are run by governments or municipal fire departments2 and many rely on volunteers. As a result, recruitment and retention of EMS personnel has become more difficult over time, especially in rural areas3 where EMS personnel report increasing stress and decreasing satisfaction.4.

OBJECTIVES:The first combined emergency medicine/internal medicine (EM/IM) residency was established in 1991. As the 30th anniversary of this unique dual-training opportunity approaches, multiple changes to the practice and educational landscape have occurred. Previous surveys examining this topic are now more than 10 years old and occurred prior to the establishment of the EM/IM/critical care medicine (EM/IM/CCM) pathway. We conducted a survey to investigate career trajectories, satisfaction, and opportunities available to EM/IM graduates.METHODS:Survey questions were developed to both allow for comparison with previously published data and examine new topics not previously investigated. A group of EM/IM and EM/IM/CCM program directors validated the survey questions. Eligible respondents were identified and contacted through their previous residency program leadership.RESULTS:Fifty-two percent (152/290) of graduates completed the survey. Thirty-seven percent of respondents practice both EM and IM, 51% practice EM only, and the remainder practice IM only. Thirty-one percent of total respondents completed a fellowship, with critical care being the most popular choice. Seventy-one percent of graduates practice in an academic center, and many hold leadership positions within education, research, and hospital administration. Eighty-seven percent of graduates were "extremely satisfied" with their choice to pursue EM/IM or EM/IM/CCM and 95% reported that they would choose this path again.CONCLUSIONS:Most respondents are satisfied with their residency choice and would choose to pursue this training again, despite the additional years of training. The proportion of graduates pursuing fellowship is higher than previously published data. Most continue to work in academics, and many are leaders within their institutions. The changing health care landscape offers multiple opportunities to dually trained graduates.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the appropriateness of cardiac troponin (cTn) testing among patients with cTn increases. METHODS: This is a planned secondary analysis of the Use of TROPonin In Acute coronary syndromes (UTROPIA, NCT02060760) observational cohort study. Appropriateness of cTn testing was adjudicated for emergency department patients with cTn increases >99th percentile and analyzed using both contemporary and high-sensitivity (hs) cTnI assays according to sub-specialty, diagnoses, and symptoms. RESULTS: Appropriateness was determined from 1272 and 1078 adjudication forms completed for 497 and 422 patients with contemporary and hs-cTnI increases, respectively. Appropriateness of cTnI testing across adjudication forms was 71.5% and 72.0% for cTnI and hs-cTnI, respectively. Compared with emergency physicians, cardiologists were less likely to classify cTnI orders as appropriate (cTnI: 79% vs 56%, P < .0001; hs-cTnI: 82% vs 51%, P < .0001). For contemporary cTnI, appropriateness of 95%, 70%, and 39% was observed among adjudication forms completed by cardiologists for type 1 myocardial infarction, type 2 myocardial infarction, and myocardial injury, respectively; compared with 90%, 86%, and 71%, respectively, among emergency physicians. Similar findings were observed using hs-cTnI. Discordance in appropriateness adjudication forms occurred most frequently in cases of myocardial injury (62% both assays) or type 2 myocardial infarction (cTnI 31%; hs-cTnI 23%). CONCLUSIONS: Marked differences exist in the perception of what constitutes appropriate clinical use of cTn testing between cardiologists and emergency physicians, with emergency physicians more likely to see testing as appropriate across a range of clinical scenarios. Discordance derives most often from cases classified as myocardial injury or type 2 myocardial infarction. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Background: Emergency department (ED) treatment of hyperkalemia often involves shifting potassium into the intracellular space. There is uncertainty whether transcellular shifting causes insufficient potassium removal during hemodialysis, resulting in a subsequent need for further medical therapy or multiple sessions of hemodialysis. Objective: We sought to determine whether transcellular potassium shifting in ED patients with hyperkalemia who undergo hemodialysis is associated with recurrent hyperkalemia with or without repeat hemodialysis within 24 h. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of ED patients with a potassium value > 5.3 mmol/L and >= 1 hemodialysis run. Transcellular shifting medications were defined as albuterol, insulin, and sodium bicarbonate. Primary outcomes were recurrent hyperkalemia with and without repeat hemodialysis within 24 h of the initial dialysis run. Generalized estimating equation models were created for the outcomes using administration of a shifting medication as the primary predictor. Results: Four hundred seventy-nine encounters were identified. In 238 (50 %) encounters, a shifting medication was administered. There were 85 outcomes of recurrent hyperkalemia and 36 outcomes of recurrent hyperkalemia with repeat hemodialysis. After adjustment, administration of shifting medications was not associated with recurrent hyperkalemia (adjusted odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 0.71-2.23) or recurrent hyperkalemia with repeat dialysis (adjusted odds ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 0.80-4.48). Conclusions: Administration of transcellular shifting medications for hyperkalemia in the ED was not associated with either recurrent hyperkalemia after hemodialysis or the need for a second dialysis session within 24 h. Our findings address the uncertainty regarding transcellular potassium shifting before emergent dialysis and support safe ED administration of medications that shift potassium to the intracellular space. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Complications associated with the emergency department (ED) management of hyperkalemia are not well characterized. The goals of this study were to describe the frequency of hypoglycemia following the use of insulin to shift potassium intracellularly and to examine the association of key variables with this complication. Methods: Adult ED patients (>= 18 years old) with hyperkalemia (>5.3 mmol/L) were identified in the electronic medical record over a 5-year period at the study site. Patient characteristics, laboratory results, and treatments in the ED were captured. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was utilized to determine independent associations with the development of hypoglycemia. Results: 1307 encounters were identified where hyperkalemia was present. Hypoglycemia (defined as a glucose <70 mg/dL) occurred in 68/409 (17%) of patients given insulin, compared to 4% of patients who did not receive insulin. Lower glucose prior to insulin (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.90; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.85 to 0.96), higher doses of insulin (aOR 1.07; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.15) and lower doses of D50 (aOR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99) were independently associated with hypoglycemia in the multivariate analysis. Age, history of diabetes, and history renal failure were not independently associated. Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is a frequent complication of treatment with IV insulin in the ED. Interventions such as standardized protocols to assist with the ED management of hyperkalemia should be developed; their efficacy and safety should be compared. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BackgroundStudies addressing patients with type 2 myocardial infarction and myocardial injury, including the impact of using high-sensitivity (hs) cardiac troponin (cTn) assays on their incidence are needed.MethodsOurs is a prospective, observational US cohort study. Consecutive emergency department patients with serial cTnI measurements were studied. Outcomes included 180-day mortality and major adverse cardiac events, including 2-year follow-up for those with myonecrosis.ResultsAmong 1640 patients, using a contemporary cTnI assay, 30% (n = 497) had ≥1 cTnI >99th percentile, with 4.7% (n = 77), 8.5% (n = 140), and 17% (n = 280) classified as type 1 myocardial infarction, type 2 myocardial infarction, and myocardial injury, respectively. Compared with patients without myonecrosis, 180-day mortality was higher for type 2 myocardial infarction (4% vs 13%, P < .0001) (adjusted hazard ratio 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.8; P = .0005) and myocardial injury (4% vs 11%, P < .0001) (adjusted hazard ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.0; P = .02), both with mortality >20% at 2 years. Predictors of 2-year mortality for type 2 myocardial infarction included age, congestive heart failure, and beta-blockers. Relative to the contemporary cTnI assay, hs-cTnI had less myonecrosis (30% vs 26%, P = .003) and acute myocardial infarction (13.2% vs 10.8%, P = .032), including fewer type 2 myocardial infarctions (8.5% vs 6.3, P = .01), with no difference in myocardial injury (17% vs 15%, P = .1).ConclusionscTnI increases are encountered in approximately a third of patients, the majority due to nonatherothrombotic conditions. Compared with patients without myonecrosis, type 2 myocardial infarction and myocardial injury have worse short-term outcomes, with mortality rates >20% at 2 years. hs-cTnI assay does not lead to more myocardial injury or infarction.

BACKGROUND We examined the diagnostic performance of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) vs contemporary cTnI with use of the 99th percentile alone and with a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) to rule out acute myocardial infarction (MI) and serial changes (deltas) to rule in MI. METHODS We included consecutive patients presenting to a US emergency department with serial cTnI onclinical indication. Diagnostic performance for acute MI, including MI subtypes, and 30-day outcomes were examined. RESULTS Among 1631 patients, MI was diagnosed in 12.9% using the contemporary cTnI assay and in 10.4% using the hs-cTnI assay. For ruling out MI, contemporary cTnI ≤99th percentile at 0, 3, and 6 h and a normal ECG had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.5% (95% CI, 98.6-100) and a sensitivity of 99.1% (95% CI, 97.4-100) for diagnostic and safety outcomes. Serial hs-cTnI measurements ≤99th percentile at 0 and 3 h and a normal ECG had an NPV and sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 100-100) for diagnostic and safety outcomes. For ruling in MI, contemporary cTnI measurements had specificities of 84.4% (95% CI, 82.5-86.3) at presentation and 78.7% (95% CI, 75.4-82.0) with serial testing at 0, 3, and 6 h, improving to 89.2% (95% CI, 87.1-91.3) by using serial cTnI changes (delta, 0 and 6 h) >150%. hs-cTnI had specificities of 86.9% (95% CI, 85.1-88.6) at presentation and 85.7% (95% CI, 83.5-87.9) with serial testing at 0 and 3 h, improving to 89.3% (95% CI, 87.3-91.2) using a delta hs-cTnI (0 and 3 h) >5 ng/L. CONCLUSIONS hs-cTnI and contemporary cTnI assays are excellent in ruling out MI following recommendations predicated on serial testing and the 99th percentile with a normal ECG. For ruling in MI, deltas improve the specificity. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02060760.

BACKGROUNDInternational Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding is the standard diagnostic tool for healthcare management. At present, type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) classification by the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) remains ignored in the ICD system. We determined the concordance for the diagnosis of MI using ICD-9 coding vs the Universal Definition.METHODSCardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured by both contemporary (cTnI) and high-sensitivity (hs-cTnI) assays in 1927 consecutive emergency department (ED) patients [Use of TROPonin In Acute coronary syndromes (UTROPIA) cohort] who had cTnI ordered on clinical indication. All patients were adjudicated using both contemporary and hs-cTnI assays. The Kappa index and McNemar test were used to assess concordance between ICD-9 code 410 and type 1 MI (T1MI) and type 2 MI (T2MI).RESULTSAmong the 249 adjudicated MIs using the contemporary cTnI, only 69 (28%) were ICD-coded MIs. Of 180 patients not ICD coded as MI, 34 (19%) were T1MI and 146 (81%) were T2MI. For the ICD-coded MIs, 79% were T1MI and 21% were T2MI. A fair Kappa index, 0.386, and a McNemar difference of 0.0892 (P < 0.001) were found. Among the 207 adjudicated MIs using the hs-cTnI assay, 67 (32%) were ICD coded as MI. Of the 140 patients not ICD coded as MI, 27 (19%) were T1MI and 113 (81%) were T2MI. For the ICD-coded MIs, 85% were T1MI and 15% T2MI. A moderate Kappa index, 0.439, and a McNemar difference of 0.0674 (P < 0.001) were found.CONCLUSIONSICD-9-coded MIs captured only a small proportion of adjudicated MIs, primarily from not coding T2MI. Our findings emphasize the need for an ICD code for T2MI.

Non-opioid medications have long been part of a comprehensive pain management strategy for acute conditions. Many pharmacologic agents that fall into this heterogeneous group are inexpensive and readily available, and are perceived to have a lower risk of adverse events when compared to opioids. This narrative review provides an overview of several classes of non-opioid analgesics and discusses some of the evidence that examines their effectiveness. Three cases are used to highlight specific situations in which non-opioid medications could be considered. NSAIDs and acetaminophen have been demonstrated to be effective compared to placebo in a variety of settings for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and gabapentin are commonly used for chronic neuropathic pain. Important safety considerations exist, and clinicians should be aware of the contraindications and potential for adverse events for any non-opioid analgesic they plan to prescribe.

Introduction: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes facilitate quality review evaluations. However, despite the global endorsement by cardiology societies, the Third Universal De...

Contemporary cardiac troponin assays (cTn), which are predominantly used only in the United States (US) because high sensitivity assays are not yet approved, generally require prolonged serial measurements to safely rule out acute myocardial infarction (AMI), contributing to crowding and delays in excluding disease. Whether rapid rule-out strategies using cTn concentrations under the limit of detection (LoD) or accelerated serial sampling can be safely performed with these assays has not been well explored.

www.ccmjournal.org 2493 Objectives: To characterize the prevalence of withdrawal of lifesustaining treatment, as well as the time to awakening, short-term neurologic outcomes, and cause of death in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrests treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Design: Single center, prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests. Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital and level one trauma center in Minneapolis, MN. Patients: Adults with witnessed, nontraumatic, out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests regardless of initial electrocardiographic rhythm with return of spontaneous circulation who were admitted to an ICU. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The study cohort included 154 comatose survivors of witnessed out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests who were admitted to an ICU during the 54-month study period. One hundred eighteen patients (77%) were treated with therapeutic hypothermia. The mean age was 59 years, 104 (68%) were men, and 83 (54%) had an initial rhythm of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Only eight of all 78 patients (10%) who died qualified as brain dead; and 81% of all patients (63 of 78) who died did so after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Twenty of 56 comatose survivors (32%) treated with hypothermia who awoke (as defined by Glasgow Motor Score of 6) and had good neurologic outcomes (defined as Cerebral Performance Category 1–2) did so after 72 hours. Conclusions: Our study supports delaying prognostication and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to beyond 72 hours in cases treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Larger multicenter prospective studies are needed to better define the most appropriate time frame for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia. These data are also consistent with the notion that a majority of out-ofhospital cardiopulmonary arrest survivors die after a decision to withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment and that very few of these survivors progress to brain death. (Crit Care Med 2014; 42:2493–2499)

Study objectiveWe describe the current state of emergency department to inpatient handoffs and assess handoff best practices between emergency physicians and hospitalist medicine physicians.MethodsA survey was distributed electronically to emergency medicine and internal medicine physicians at 10 hospitals across the United States. Descriptive and quantitative analysis was performed on survey results. Additionally, qualitative data were obtained from an expert focus group of both emergency medicine and hospital medicine clinicians.ResultsSeven hundred fifty of 1,799 physicians (42.2%) responded to our Web-based survey. Attending physicians (45%) described themselves as practicing emergency medicine (51%) or internal medicine (56%). Responding residents were 55% internal medicine, 43% emergency medicine, and 13% dual emergency medicine/internal medicine. Of the responding departments, use of standardized tools was reported by less than 20% and only one third of residents reported formal handoff training. Handoff factors identified as important include identifying "high-risk" patients, designating uninterrupted time to perform the handoff, and standardizing information provided during the handoff. Qualitative results mirrored these themes and acknowledged the importance of bedside handoffs.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the largest multispecialty survey to date, including both resident and attending physicians in emergency medicine and hospital medicine. Standardized tools are rarely used and training of residents in this critical task is uncommon. Physicians in both specialties agree on the important content and structure of handoff, including the ideal situation of face-to-face bedside discussion. A curriculum and assessment tool for this practice should be developed.

Objectives: To characterize the prevalence of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as well as the time to awakening, short-term neurologic outcomes, and cause of death in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrests treated with therapeutic hypothermia.Design: Single center, prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests.Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital and level one trauma center in Minneapolis, MN.Patients: Adults with witnessed, nontraumatic, out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests regardless of initial electrocardiographic rhythm with return of spontaneous circulation who were admitted to an ICU.Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: The study cohort included 154 comatose survivors of witnessed out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests who were admitted to an ICU during the 54-month study period. One hundred eighteen patients (77%) were treated with therapeutic hypothermia. The mean age was 59 years, 104 (68%) were men, and 83 (54%) had an initial rhythm of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Only eight of all 78 patients (10%) who died qualified as brain dead; and 81% of all patients (63 of 78) who died did so after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Twenty of 56 comatose survivors (32%) treated with hypothermia who awoke (as defined by Glasgow Motor Score of 6) and had good neurologic outcomes (defined as Cerebral Performance Category 1-2) did so after 72 hours.Conclusions: Our study supports delaying prognostication and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to beyond 72 hours in cases treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Larger multicenter prospective studies are needed to better define the most appropriate time frame for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia. These data are also consistent with the notion that a majority of out-ofhospital cardiopulmonary arrest survivors die after a decision to withdrawal. of life-sustaining treatment and that very few of these survivors progress to brain death.