title: [Long-term result and quality of life following preclinical cardiopulmonary resuscitation].
abstract: The value of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be considered in the light of late outcome of survivors, including the neurological situation as well as the subsequent quality of life. We followed up the fates of 168 patients (pts) primary successfully resuscitated by rescue helicopter and mobile intensive care unit of the rescue centre at the military hospital of Hamburg and admitted to emergency hospitals after heart action became stabilised. 130 pts died during hospitalisation and 38 pts (7.9% of 480 resuscitation attempts total) were discharged from hospital. 32 of them had no essential neurologic damage. Within the next 3 years after discharge from hospital 15 of the 38 survivors died (3-year-survival rate: 4.8% of all attempts of CPR or 60% of survivors). 4 of the 6 survivors with persistent cerebral damage died within 6 months after discharge from hospital. Interviews (n = 28) with survivors or their relatives provided information on social situation, physical and psychical condition after CPR as well as recollection of CPR. 29% (n = 8) became incapacitated for work after CPR. 68% considered meaning of life unchanged, 25% as limited and for 7% the incident had a positive effect concerning their outlook on life. 18% (n = 5) suffered from depressions after CPR. Reductions of physical efficiency (64%), of memory (68%) and of concentration capacity (61%) were realised. The majority of survivors did not remember anything, neither experiences of intubation nor of external cardiac massage. Only one patient thought he remembered the incident and reported about "blows on the chest". 89% considered resuscitation to be a sensible and important provision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012151:Resuscitation
vernacular_title: Langzeiterfolg und Lebensqualität nach präklinischer kardiopulmonaler Reanimation.