Differences in case definitions as a cause of variation in reported in-hospital CPR survival.
To determine the effect of different case definitions on reported survival following in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest, the authors reviewed the charts of 411 patients for whom a nurse completed a cardiac arrest form at a university hospital during a two-year period. Survival to discharge was 16.0% for patients who required basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (chest compression and pulmonary ventilation), 18.6% for patients who were pulseless and apneic, 23.0% for patients who were pulseless or apneic, and 28.2% for all 411 patients for whom a cardiac arrest form was completed. These results demonstrate that reported survival to discharge following in-hospital cardiac arrest varies widely depending on the case definition that is used.
Ballew
K A
KA
Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Philbrick
J T
JT
Caven
D E
DE
Schorling
J B
JB
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009737:Nursing Records / Q000592:standards*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate; D014768:Virginia