Overview

Following resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), reperfusion injury can cause cell damage in the heart and brain. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) consists of intermittent application of a device such as a blood pressure cuff to a limb to induce non-lethal ischemia. Studies in animals with cardiac arrest as well as in humans with acute myocardial infarction suggest that RIC before or after restoration of blood flow may reduce injury to the heart and improve outcomes but this has not been proven in humans who have had OHCA. The RICE pilot study is a single-center study to assess the feasibility of application of RIC in the emergency department setting for patients transported to the hospital after resuscitation from OHCA.

Eligibility

Included will be those with:

1. Age 18 years or more;
2. Defibrillation by laypersons or defibrillation and/or chest compressions by EMS providers dispatched to the scene;
3. Non-traumatic etiology of arrest, defined as without concomitant blunt, penetrating, or burn-related injury, or uncontrolled bleeding or exsanguination;
4. Spontaneous circulation upon emergency department arrival;
5. No response to verbal commands; and
6. Ongoing or planned induced hypothermia.

Excluded will be those with:

1. STEMI indicated on first 12-lead ECG obtained after restoration of circulation, defined as ST-elevation of 2 mm in two or more contiguous ECG leads;
2. Written do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) reported to providers before randomization;
3. Drowning or hypothermia as cause of arrest;
4. Known prisoner or pregnant; or
5. Dialysis fistula in either upper extremity; or
6. Pre-existing amputation of upper extremity.