Abstract
Aim of the study
Evaluation of the treatment, epidemiology and outcome of cardiac arrest in the television
franchise Star Trek.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study of prospective events. Screening of all episodes of Star
Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager for cardiac
arrest events. Documentation was performed according to the Utstein guidelines for
cardiac arrest documentation. All adult, single-person cardiac arrests were included.
Patients were excluded if cardiac arrest occurred during mass casualties, if the victims
were annihilated by energy weapons or were murdered and nobody besides the assassin
could provide first aid. Epidemiological data, treatment and outcome of cardiac arrest
victims in the 24th century were studied.
Results
Ninety-six cardiac arrests were included. Twenty-three individuals were female (24%).
Cardiac arrest was witnessed in 91 cases (95%), trauma was the leading cause (n = 38; 40%). Resuscitation was initiated in 17 cases (18%) and 12 patients (13%) had
return of spontaneous circulation. Favorable neurological outcome and long-term survival
was documented in nine patients (9%). Technically diagnosed cardiac arrest was associated
with higher rates of favorable neurological outcome and long-term survival. Neurological
outcome and survival did not depend on cardiac arrest location.
Conclusion
Cardiac arrest remains a critical event in the 24th century. We observed a change
of etiology from cardiac toward traumatic origin. Quick access to medical help and
new prognostic tools were established to treat cardiac arrest.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 29, 2014
Accepted:
October 2,
2014
Received:
September 3,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
