Table 1

Inclusion/exclusion criteria for the asphyxia group and the ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) group of patients

VF/VT group

VF/VT initial rhythm

Age > 18 years

Core temperature > 30°C

Confirmed acute myocardial infarction and/or primary VF/VT (electrocardiogram, enzymes, autopsy, electrophysiological investigation)

Excluded patients with successful defibrillation in the first cycle

Excluded patients with acute myocardial infarction with asystole and pulseless electrical activity as the initial rhythm

Asphyxia group

Asystole and pulseless electrical activity as the initial rhythm

Excluded patients with VF/VT as the initial rhythm

Age > 18 years

Core temperature > 30°C

Excluded acute myocardial infarction as cause of arrest (clinical investigations and/or autopsy)

Etiology:

solid foreign body in the airway

aspiration

edema or tumor of the upper airway

hanging (excluded vasculatory or others causes of arrest – clinical investigations or autopsy)

Acute asthma attack (excluded cardiac causes of arrest)

Drowning (excluded cardiac causes of arrest)

Intoxications (excluded others causes of death – autopsy and/or added investigations in hospital

Grmec et al. Critical Care 2003 7:R139   doi:10.1186/cc2369