Veno-arterial CO2 difference and respiratory quotient after cardiac arrest: An observational cohort study

To characterize venous-arterial CO2 difference (ΔpCO2) and the respiratory quotient (RQ) in post cardiac arrest patients evaluate association between these parameters patient outcome. Data were obtained retrospectively from admitted 2007 2016 to a medical intensive care unit. Comatose, adult whom arterial venous blood gas analyses concomitantly performed first 24 h included. Patients grouped according time-point of sampling; 0–6, 6–12 12–24 after admission. 308 included; 174 (56%) died before ICU discharge 212 (69%) had an unfavorable neurologic RQ was associated with mortality (OR:1.09 (95%CI: 1.04–1.14; p < 0.01)), although not neurological ΔpCO2 negatively both (OR: 0.92 0.86–0.99; = 0.02)) poor outcome (adjusted OR: 0.93 0.87–0.99; 0.02)). predicted elevated RQ; above 8.5 mmHg identified high reasonable sensitivity specificity. early phase arrest. However,