Survival rate of incoming patients with cardiac arrest at the cardiology infirmary of the emergency department of a public hospital in Greece

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiac arrest is an urgent situation that, despite the improved resuscitation capabilities, the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims remains low.Aim: Τo investigate the survival rate of the incoming patients with cardiac arrest in the cardiology infirmary of the emergency department of a public hospital.Material-Method: The study included 210 patients who were transferred pulseless and breathless at the cardiology infirmary of the emergency department of “Tzaneio” Hospital, Piraeus, during the period April 2017 - November 2018. Data was collected from the National Center of Emergency Dispatch's printed forms, as well as from the patients’ admission book of the emergency department.Results: More than 10% (11.9%) of patients with cardiac arrest returned to spontaneous circulation in the emergency department, of which 16% was discharged. Patients with known cardiac history, (p=0.002), with a shockable rhythm (p<0.001), and especially ventricular fibrillation (p<0.001) upon arrival at the emergency room, and patients who were defibrillated at the ambulance during admission and at the emergency room, were more likely to survive (p<0.001). No statistically significant correlation was found between the factors studied and survival after cardiac arrest, in the group of patients that were discharged.Conclusions: The survival rate of the incoming patients with cardiac arrest at the emergency department of “Tzaneio” Hospital, Piraeus, was low. As for most health systems, this issue constitutes a fairly complex public health problem. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and corresponding guidelines require further improvement in order for the survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients to increase.