Remote Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Resuscitation (RICE) Pilot

A standard non-invasive blood pressure cuff (e.g., American Diagnostics Corporation, Hauppauge, NY but any one can be used off the shelf) and disposable plastic clamp (e.g.,Medline Industries Incorporated, Mundelein, IL) can be used to apply RIC in patients resuscitated from OHCA via three cycles of 5-mins. inflation to 200 mmHg followed by 5-mins. deflation of a blood pressure cuff on a upper extremity. The cuff occludes the artery; the clamp maintains pressure in the air bladder of the cuff during the inflation periods.

The control group will have a sham package opened at the bedside as soon as feasible after ED arrival. This will be identical in size, weight and appearance as that in the intervention group, but will contain a sham device. Upon identification that the patient has been randomized to the control group, the care team will proceed with all other resuscitative measures as in the the intervention group.