Avoidable cardiac arrest: lessons for an A&E department.
Deterioration to cardiac arrest is not always sudden and unexpected and on a significant number of occasions cardiac arrest could be prevented. This has important messages for the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department as the vast majority of emergency admissions originate via A&E.
Castle
Nick
N
Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Camberley, GU16 5UJ, Surrey, UK. nic4heaths@aol.com
Kenward
Gary
G
Hodgetts
Tim
T
D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008485:Medical Audit; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index