Incidenza e rilevanza clinica della visualizzazione echocardiografica di fibrillazione ventricolare occulta: uno studio prospettico multicentrico di pazienti che presentano al reparto di emergenza dopo arresto cardiaco fuori dall'ospedale.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is traditionally identified on ECG but echocardiography can visualize myocardial fibrillation. The prevalence and importance of occult VF defined as a nonshockable ECG rhythm but VF by echocardiography is unknown. METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective study, emergency department patients presenting following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were eligible for inclusion if echocardiography and ECG were performed simultaneously. Recorded echocardiography and ECG were interpreted separately by physicians blinded to all patient and resuscitation information. The primary outcome was percentage of occult VF. The secondary outcomes included survival