Thoraco-abdominal CT examinations for evaluating cause of cardiac arrest and complications of chest compression in resuscitated patients

The objective of the study is to describe the causes of cardiac arrest and complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on thoraco-abdominal CT examinations for resuscitated patients in our institution. We evaluated the causes of cardiac arrest on thoraco-abdominal CT scans, which was compared with the final diagnosis (determined by consensus of two emergency physicians based on the clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings). Additionally, we evaluated the complications of CPR on thoraco-abdominal CT scans. From March 2005 to August 2011, 82 patients underwent CT of the thorax (n = 77) and abdomen (n = 23) within 24 h after CPR. Final diagnosis was as follows: cardiac (n = 29), respiratory (n = 28), metabolic (n = 11), exsanguination (n = 5), cerebral (n = 2), sepsis (n = 1), and indeterminate (n = 6). In 25 patients (30 %), thoraco-abdominal CT scans made the role either as a definitive study (n = 22) or as a supportive test (n = 3) for the diagnosis. In particular, CT was critical in diagnosis of many respiratory causes (64 %) and all exsanguinations. The most common complications following CPR were skeletal chest injuries (n = 48), followed by lung contusion (n = 45). Thoraco-abdominal CT examinations are helpful for the diagnosis of cause of cardiac arrest and complications of CPR.