Published online Sep 9, 2021. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v10.i5.290
Peer-review started: April 9, 2021
First decision: July 27, 2021
Revised: July 28, 2021
Accepted: August 6, 2021
Article in press: August 6, 2021
Published online: September 9, 2021
Processing time: 153 Days and 8 Hours
The clinical benefits of steroid administration during adult cardiac arrest remain controversial. According to the latest guidelines for managing adult cardiac arrest, steroid was not routinely recommended giving during resuscitation.
Previous studies have shown that patients who receive steroids after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) have improved outcomes. In contrast, few studies have investigated the benefits of steroid administration during resuscitation and the results are unclear.
The objectives of this review were to investigate the clinical benefits of steroids during adult cardiac arrest, including the survival rate at hospital discharge, sustained ROSC, the survival rate at hospital admission, and neurological outcome at hospital discharge.
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Steroid administration was associated with increased survival at hospital discharge. Steroid administration during cardiac arrest was associated with an increased rate of sustained ROSC and a favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge.
Although we could not draw firm conclusions, the use of steroids during cardiac arrest was associated with improved outcomes of resuscitation.
Further study concerning the use of steroid in the prepared protocol and selected circumstances are warranted.