Practice patterns for acquiring neuroimaging after pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest

To determine which patient and cardiac arrest factors were associated with obtaining neuroimaging after in-hospital cardiac arrest, and among those patients who had neuroimaging, factors associated with which neuroimaging modality was obtained.

Retrospective cohort study of patients who survived in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and were enrolled in the ICU-RESUS trial (NCT02837497).

We tabulated ultrasound (US), CT, and MRI frequency within 7 days following IHCA and identified patient and cardiac arrest factors associated with neuroimaging modalities utilized. Multivariable models determined which factors were associated with obtaining neuroimaging. Of 1000 patients, 44% had ≥ 1 neuroimaging study (US in 31%, CT in 18%, and MRI in 6% of patients). Initial USs were performed a median of 0.3 [0.1,0.5], CTs 1.4 [0.4,2.8], and MRIs 4.1 [2.2,5.1] days post-arrest. Neuroimaging timing and frequency varied by site. Factors associated with greater odds of neuroimaging were cardiac arrest in CICU (versus PICU), longer duration CPR, receiving ECMO post-arrest, and post-arrest care with targeted temperature management or EEG monitoring. US performance was associated with congenital heart disease. CT was associated with age ≥ 1-month, greater pre-arrest disability, and receiving CPR for ≥ 16 min. MRI utilization increased with pre-existing respiratory insufficiency and respiratory decompensation as arrest cause, and medical cardiac and surgical non-cardiac or trauma illness category. Overall, if neuroimaging was obtained, US was more common in CICU while CT/MRI were utilized more in PICU.

Practice patterns for acquiring neuroimaging after IHCA are variable and influenced by patient, cardiac arrest, and site factors.