Naloxone for Opioid Associated Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Rationale: Opioid associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OA-OHCA) is defined as cardiac arrest precipitated by the use of opioids, with or without co-intoxicants and comorbidities. In OA-OHCA, hypoxia is thought reduce cardiac output, resulting in hypotension, bradycardia, and pulseless electric activity (PEA) or asystole. This pathophysiology is distinct from sudden cardiac death and other arrest etiologies and may benefit from targeted treatments, including naloxone. Naloxone is a competitive mu opioid-receptor antagonist that reverses the central nervous system, respiratory, and circulatory effects of opioids. Naloxone improves cardiac arrest outcomes in animals, and a recent retrospective analysis of cardiac arrests from 1300 EMS agencies found that survival and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were higher in those given naloxone compared to those not receiving naloxone in patients presenting in PEA. Whether naloxone benefits patients in OA-OHCA is a knowledge gap that should be assessed in a randomized controlled trial.

The long-term goal is to conduct Naloxone for Opioid Associated Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (NOPACA), a randomized, controlled trial to determine the efficacy of naloxone vs. placebo in OA-OHCA. To design NOPACA, the investigators propose a pilot RCT of participants at high risk for OA-OHCA to verify a reasonable recruitment rate; treatment fidelity; and adequate retention and measurement of outcomes at follow up.

Hypothesis: The overall hypothesis is that early EMS administration of naloxone (in addition to standard resuscitation) improves survival in patients in OA-OHCA. The hypothesis of the pilot RCT is that the investigators can feasibly enroll, randomize, administer naloxone, and measure ROSC and survival at hospital discharge.

Aim 1: Determine the ability to enroll and randomize participants into a RCT of naloxone vs. placebo for OA-OHCA.

Aim 2: Determine the ability to deliver the treatments per protocol, after standard initial resuscitation measures (within 5 minutes of initiating CPR and giving the first dose of epinephrine).

Aim 3: Determine the ability to measure primary efficacy outcomes (rate of ROSC at ED arrival and survival at hospital discharge)23 and obtain a preliminary estimate of effect size for the future trial.

Design: Pilot, randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial. Study population: Participants are adults in EMS attended out of hospital cardiac arrest, in whom EMS has initiated ACLS treatment, including ventilation, CPR, and obtain IV/IO access and administered epinephrine. Based on prior research to identify patients at high risk of OA-OHCA, participants meeting less than 60 years old who receive initial resuscitation measures will be eligible for inclusion.

Setting: The University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco Fire Department Fire Department.

Intervention: Naloxone 2mg (2ml of 1mg/ml solution) administered by EMS personnel via the IV (or IO) route immediately (within 5 minutes) following the first dose of epinephrine.

Control: Saline 2ml will be supplied in pre-filled syringes within numbered trial treatment packs.

Feasibility outcomes will allow the investigators to determine whether the NOPACA future trial is feasible and estimate how many sites might be needed.

• Number of EMS treated OHCA patients who meet inclusion criteria per month, with a goal of > 3 per month
• Proportion of those randomized participants who receive the study drug based on randomization assignment, with a target treatment fidelity ≥ 75%.
• Proportion of randomized participants who are retained in the study, with a goal of retention and ascertainment of outcomes in ≥ 75% of participants.

Efficacy outcomes include sustained ROSC, survival to hospital discharge, and neurologic outcome will be assessed with the modified Rankin Scale.

Statistical analyses and reporting will adhere to CONSORT guidelines. The two groups will be compared in relation to baseline patient and cardiac arrest characteristics using descriptive statistics. All analyses of outcomes will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis including patients randomized to a study arm and meeting all inclusion criteria and no known exclusion criteria at the time of drug administration. Point and confidence estimates will be the preferred measure to report group differences and all confidence intervals will have 95% coverage. All tests will be two-sided, and a p-value <0.05 will be considered significant Significance: By conducting Pilot-NOPACA, the investigators will determine whether the plan for NOPACA, a definitive trial of naloxone for OA-OHCA, is feasible. Also, the investigators will have obtained the regulatory approvals, including Exception from Informed Consent. Determining the benefit of naloxone in OA-OHCA is an American Heart Association research priority and may save thousands of lives each year in a worsening opioid epidemic.