In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ‘Audit and Outcome’

SummaryIn hospitals, cardiac arrest is a relatively common event with an estimated incidence of around 1:1000 patients and a survival rate around 15% .Good data collection is the right starting point for improving the outcome of any medical centerIn our study we have collected complete data on 77 cases of in-hospital cardiac arrest depending on the utstien style.We find that most of the events had occurred in the ICU 72.8 % and were male patients in their mid to late 60s. The main presenting rhythm was bradcardia followed by asystole. While the response times to resuscitation interventions was immediate in the ICU events through trained personnel and available equipments, the events that occurred in wards had very late or even no interventions.In our survey 46.67 % patients had a ROSC “Return of Spontaneous Circulation” >24 hrs , 20 % survived to hospital discharge. There was significant statistical relationship between survival to hospital discharge and VF/VT as a presenting rhythm and sure with location of events as those occurring in the ICU have better survival. Also there was a significant statistical relationship between age ? 60 and Time to IV epinephrine administration ? 3 minutes and ICU location to ROSC > 24 hrs .Conclusion and RecommendationsA medical emergency team “MET” is a must to improve our results. An organized notification system for the MET and proper positioning of resuscitation carts allover our medical center is also required . Good data collection and documentation is mandatory to reevaluate ourselves.Education of resuscitation to health care providers is the base where we should start. BLS skills should be taught to senior nurses and junior medical staff and sure for all other doctors . Also ALS skills through regular training courses or else we are loosing our critically ill patients.