OHCA
Medical abbreviation · Emergency Medicine
| Stands for | Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OHCA stands for Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an emergency medicine abbreviation.
Cardiac arrest that occurs outside a hospital, at home, in public or in transit. Survival depends heavily on bystander CPR, early defibrillation and rapid EMS response.
Example: OHCA, witnessed, bystander CPR, VF on arrival; ROSC after 2 shocks.
Usage notes
More than 350,000 OHCAs occur in the US each year, and survival to hospital discharge is roughly 1 in 10. The "chain of survival" describes linked steps from recognition to recovery. Public access defibrillators improve outcomes.
Related abbreviations
More emergency medicine abbreviations
- NAT – Non-accidental trauma
- NEXUS – National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study
- NOI – Nature of illness
- NPA – Nasopharyngeal airway
- NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation Program
- OD – Overdose
- OPA – Oropharyngeal airway
- PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- PASG – Pneumatic anti-shock garment
- PAT – Pediatric assessment triangle
- PCR – Patient care report
- PEARS – Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization
See all 97 emergency medicine abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.