Organization and experiences of a cardiac resuscitation service.

Abstract

The incidence of cardiac arrest occurring in hospital patients away from the operating room or other locations where anaesthetic procedures are carried out is impossible to estimate. Of the patients who suddenly and unexpectedly develop a cardiac arrest, only a few survive. The survival rate is low, for most patients die from their underlying disease. But many are salvageable. The organization and development of resuscitation services in the hospital is an endeavour towards improving techniques and methods so that cardiac arrest may be successfully treated. No success can be possible without the wholehearted support of the administration, the nurses and their supervisors, and especially the members of the Resuscitation Committee. As far as the St. Boniface General Hospital is concerned this essential co-operation has been conspicuous. Table VII summarizes our experience: a total of 63 patients were treated. Twenty-five were temporarily resuscitated and five recovered sufficiently to return home and assume their normal activities. It is felt that even this small number of rescues justified the expense and the tremendous outlay of effort by a large number of interested people, and it is anticipated that the survival rate will climb with continued experience.