Cardiac arrest & resuscitation
Prevalence and efficacy of new protocol for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with “do not attempt resuscitation” orders in Japan
Authors' conclusion
DNAR orders and the newly issued protocol were associated with shorter EMS activity time. Although DNAR orders influenced the infrequent use of prehospital medical resources, advanced airways were still used frequently, even for OHCA patients with DNAR orders.
Study context
- Population
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Kobe, Japan, after a new do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) protocol (April 2023) permitting emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to terminate resuscitation1,622 analysed
- Participants
- 2,023 patients
- Exposure
- DNAR orders vs non-DNAR
- Non-DNARn = 1,532reference
- DNARn = 90
- Outcome
- Duration of EMT activities
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
EMT activity time from dispatch to return to local department
Shorter in the DNAR group, especially when termination of resuscitation was completed
96 min (IQR: 78-117) vs. 83.5 min (IQR: 69-98)
p < 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Advanced airway placement (DNAR non-termination subgroup) | Non-termination 29.7 % |
- Advanced airway placement (DNAR non-termination subgroup): 11/37
Use of medical resources (advanced airway, IV access, adrenaline, defibrillation)
- Proportion of all used medical resources significantly higher in the non-DNAR group
Original publication
Prevalence and efficacy of new protocol for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with “do not attempt resuscitation” orders in Japan. Resuscitation. Published 24 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →