Near-death experiences and electrocardiogram patterns in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors: a prospective observational study

Aim. To determine the effect of several factors, that are a part of cardiac arrest and resuscitation, on the incidence of neardeath experiences (NDEs). Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study in the three largest hospitals in Slovenia in a consecutive sample of patients after out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest. The presence of NDE was assessed with the self-administered Greyson’s near-death experiences scale. The electrocardiogram pattern at the beginning of resuscitation was recorded. Main outcome measure was the presence of near-death experiences. Univariate analysis was used. Results. The study included 52 patients. There were 42 (80.8%) males in the sample; median age ± standard deviation of the patients was 53.1 ± 14.5 years. Near-death experiences were reported by 11 (21.2%) patients. Patients with ventricular fibrillation had significantly less NDEs than other patients (12.2% vs. 54.5%, P = 0.006). Patients with pulseless electrical activity had significantly more NDEs than others (60.0% vs. 11.9%, P = 0.003). Patients with asystole and pulseless electrical fibrillation had significantly more NDEs than patients who had ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia (60.0% vs. 11.9%, P = 0.003). Patients with at least one defibrillation attempt had significantly less near-death experiences than others (62.5% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.007). Conclusion. Our study found a possible correlation between electrocardiogram pattern in cardiac arrest patients and the incidence of near-death experiences. Further studies should address this problem in larger samples. ZALIKA KLEMENC-KETIS ( ) Department of Family Medicine Medical School, University of Maribor 2000 Maribor, Slovenia Kersnikova 1, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia Phone: +386 3 8963 122 Fax.: +386 3 8963 119 E-mail: [email protected] STEFEK GRMEC Center for Emergency Medicine, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Zitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; Department of Family Medicine, Medical School, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; Department of Family Medicine, Medical School University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia JANKO KERSNIK Department of Family Medicine, Medical School, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor Slovenia; Department of Family Medicine Medical School, University of Ljubljana Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ZALIKA KLEMENC-KETIS • STEFEK GRMEC • JANKO KERSNIK ORIGINAL SIGNA VITAE 2011; 6(1): 31 35