Introduction: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death and
remains a significant public health problem. Despite advances in resuscitation and intensive
care, it is still associated with high mortality and poor treatment outcomes. Following the
successful return of spontaneous circulation, early and accurate monitoring of cardiac
function is crucial for further management, as timely recognition of hemodynamic instability
and myocardial dysfunction significantly influences the course of treatment. Nurses play a
key role in this process, as they continuously monitor the patient’s condition in intensive
care units and promptly recognize deviations. Purpose: The aim of this thesis was to
identify, through a literature review, which cardiological prognostic methods are used and
how nurses monitor cardiac function after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We used
a descriptive method with a literature review. Literature was obtained from the PubMed,
ScienceDirect, and CINAHL databases. Boolean operators AND and OR were used to
construct the search queries. The following keywords were used: “out-of-hospital cardiac
arrest” OR “cardiac arrest” OR OHCA AND “hemodynamic monitoring” OR “cardiac
function” OR “echocardiography” OR “electrocardiography (ECG)” AND “nurses” OR
“nursing” AND “intensive care unit” OR “critical care”. Results: The most important
methods for monitoring cardiac function are echocardiography, ECG, and hemodynamic
monitoring. Echocardiography represents an important diagnostic and prognostic tool;
however, its predictive value is not unequivocal. Early systolic dysfunction of the left
ventricle and left ventricular ejection fraction are not reliable independent predictors of
outcome, whereas diastolic dysfunction is associated with higher mortality. Hemodynamic
monitoring also plays an important role, as it enables the assessment of perfusion and
response to treatment. Nurses have a key role in monitoring ECG, hemodynamic parameters,
and the patient’s clinical condition; however, studies indicate deficiencies in ECG
interpretation knowledge, highlighting the need for additional education. Discussion and
conclusion: Monitoring cardiac function after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a complex
process that requires the use of multiple diagnostic methods. Nurses represent an essential
part of this process, as continuous patient monitoring, early recognition of changes, and
timely intervention significantly contribute to safe and high-quality patient care. Further
research in this field is important for improving clinical practice, particulary with a greater
focus on the role of nurses, as this would contribute to a better understanding of their work
and responsibilities.
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