In a large pediatric cardiac arrest study, researchers found that survival was highest, particularly among teens, when care was given within 10 to 35 minutes on the scene under the treatment of a paramedic. In addition, the study found that improved survival was associated with intravenous access and fluid administration, while advanced airway attempts and resuscitation drugs were not, according to a Science Daily news report. The observational study was led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Lawson Health Research Institute.

The researchers examined data from the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) cardiac arrest database from 11 North American regions between 2005 and 2012. The research team studied 2,244 patients ranging from three days old to 19 years old with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, evaluating survival to the time of hospital discharge. Adolescents had the highest rate of survival followed by children and then infants. Infants had the shortest scene time, lowest rate of witnessed events, and fewest interventions.

The results of the study also showed that more than 10 minutes on the scene was associated with more interventions, which suggests a ‘scoop and run’ approach of less than 10 minutes does not allow enough time to apply interventions like IV fluids that may benefit the patient, as indicated on the Science Daily news report.

Janice Tijssen, MD, principal author of the study, says, “Our findings show that scene time is significantly associated with survival to hospital discharge, and that only some interventions are associated with survival. We hope the findings will help inform paramedics as they make decisions on the best way to treat patients.”

“The findings of this study as well as those of other recent research confirms that early intervention and care from paramedics in the prehospital setting makes a significant difference in quality of life and outcomes for our patients,” says Cindy Nicholson, deputy chief of program development and service quality at Toronto Paramedic Services. “This study’s findings are not only exciting for Toronto Paramedic Services but for the profession in general and most importantly for the patients in our community who benefit from our evidence-based care.”

Source: Science Daily