SERUM PH AND LACTATE PREDICT OUTCOMES AFTER CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION

Introduction: Prediction of neurologic prognosis in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA) is a major challenge. This retrospective study was conducted to explore the prognostic value of blood pH and lactate levels in prognosing CA patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest from 2007 to 2016, including laboratory findings and blood gas analysis data. The endpoints were death or severe hypoxic brain injury within 30 days of CPR. 122 (71.5%) reached the endpoints. Results: Rank correlation test showed that age, pH and lactate at admission were correlated with endpoint events. Univariate analysis showed that age >66 years, high lactate (>6.45 mmol/L), low pH value (<7.14) were correlated with the endpoints; multivariate analysis showed that the three variables were independent predictors. The combined sensitivity and specificity of the three parameters to predict the endpoint events 0.41 and 1.0, respectively. If the patients meet with the three parameters (age >66 years with high lactate and low pH value) at admission, the specificity of poor prognosis after CPR is 1.0, indicating that pH and lactate levels are significant prognostic markers for neurologic outcomes in patients resuscitated from CA. Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates the serum pH and lactate can be used to predict the prognosis after CPR in patients after CA, and would improve the clinical management of CA patients for better therapeutic outcomes.