Feasibility and safety of hydrogen gas inhalation for post-cardiac arrest syndrome-first-in-human pilot study

Background: Hydrogen gas inhalation (HI) ameliorates cerebral and cardiac dysfunction in animal models of postcardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). HI for human patients with PCAS has never been studied. Methods and Results: Between January 2014 and January 2015, 21 of 107 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest achieved spontaneous return of circulation. After excluding 16 patients with specific criteria, 5 patients underwent HI together with target temperature management (TTM). No undesirable effects attributable to HI were observed and 4 patients survived 90 days with a favorable neurological outcome. Conclusions: HI in combination with TTM is a feasible therapy for patients with PCAS.