title: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Katowice (Poland): outcome report according to the "Utstein style".
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the city of Katowice, Poland, during a period of 1 year prior to the planned reorganization of the national emergency system. Data were collected prospectively according to a modified Utstein style. To ensure accurate data collection, a special method of reporting resuscitation events with the use of a tape-recorder was introduced. Patients were followed for a 1-year period. Between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was confirmed in 1153 patients. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted in 188 patients. Cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac aetiology (147) was bystander witnessed in 105 (71%) cases and lay-bystander basic life support was performed in 35 (24%). In the group of bystander witnessed arrest ventricular fibrillation (VF) or tachycardia was documented in 59, asystole in 40 and other non-perfusing rhythms in six patients. Of 147 patients with cardiac aetiology, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 64 (44%) patients, 15 (10%) were discharged alive and 9 (6%) were alive 1 year later. Most of these patients had a good neurological outcome. Time to first defibrillatory shock was significantly shorter for survivors (median 7 min) compared to non-survivors (median 10 min). The most important resuscitation and patient characteristics associated with survival were VF as initial rhythm, arrest witnessed, and lay-bystander CPR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Therapy and Emergency Medicine, Silesian University of Medicine, Wojewodzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Sw. Barbary, Pl. Medykow 1, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. anestitsos@slam.katowice.pl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rudner
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jalowiecki
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karpel
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziurdzik
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alberski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kawecki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors