In-hospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Incidence and Survival Rate according to the Utstein Template

Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most important medical procedures. However, we could not find any survival rates from in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Korea. The objective of this study was to report outcomes according to a Utstein template for in-hospital CPR and to use this report as basic material to enhance our CPR skills and outcome. Methods: We reviewed all medical records of arrest cases in our hospital in 2001, which were coded as CPR, care for arrest, defibrillation/cardioversion, and Ambu. The data was summarized and analyzed in Utstein style. Most of the data was described in percentage, and the t-test was used to compare survival rate by sex. A P-value below 0.05 was considered significant. Results: In 2001, 218 patients was resuscitated in our hospital and 53 patients (24.3%) survived after CPR. Their mean survival was 10 days. Twenty-seven victims died within the first 24 hours after resuscitation. Nobody was discharged alive from our hospital. The time interval from collapse to CPR was 1.7 minutes, to intubation, 5.62 minutes, to epinephrine injection 7.4 minutes and to defibrillation, 23 minutes. Glascow coma scale and cerebral performance category were less than 8 and 4 for a majority of patients. Conclusions: In our hospital, we had a low survival rate and quality of life. To improve outcome, we should prepare a better education program and more equipment and well-trained personnel for CPR.