Prevention and prediction: Root cause analyses from admission to arrest of Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation delivery occurring in general wards across two District General Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Recent nationwide audit has identified prevention of cardiac arrest and targeting of CPR delivery as areas of significant potential for improvement. 1 Findlay G.P. et al. Time to intervene? A review of patients who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a result of an in-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest. NCEPOD, 2012http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2012report1/downloads/CAP_summary.pdf Google Scholar Hospital operational practices have been reformed to target such improvements. 2 Royal College of Physicians. Acute care toolkit 4: 12-hour, 7-day consultant presence on the acute medical unit. www.rcplondon.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/acutecare-toolkit-4.pdf. Google Scholar This study analyses cases of CPR delivery outside the settings to which patients at high risk of cardiac events are normally admitted (Emergency Department (ED), Cardiology, and Critical Care).