Rationale: Approximately half of all cardiac arrest patients achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) within 10 minutes. However, If ROSC is not achieved within 20 minutes, favourable neurological outcome is rare. Currently, patients without ROSC at scene die at scene, or are transported (while still in cardiac arrest) to the hospital. In the hospital, advanced life support is continued, or, when presented to selected hospitals capable for this strategy, patients receive Extracorporeal CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR). ECPR is a strategy in which a miniaturized heart-lung machine (similar to that used in open-heart surgery) is attached to the patient. Nowadays, the greatest drawback transporting OHCA patients with refractory arrest to the hospital are the low quality of thorax compression during transport and long time needed to arrive in the hospital, in part because not all hospitals are able to provide this treatment. In the Netherlands, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) deliver highly specialized medical care to trauma and non-trauma patients, covering the entire country.~Hypothesis: Implantation of on-scene ECPR by the HEMS teams in patients with sustained out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, results in the rapid return of circulation and, thus, improved survival and less neurological impairment, which is associated with lower health care costs.~Objective: To improve survival to hospital discharge and costs/QALY in young patients with OHCA by decreasing the time in cardiac arrest by initiating ECPR on scene.
Hypothesis: Implantation of on-scene ECPR by the HEMS teams in patients with sustained out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, results in the rapid return of circulation and, thus, improved survival and less neurological impairment, which is associated with lower health care costs.