title: Survival of patients with spinal cord injury after cardiac arrest in Department of Veterans Affairs hospital: Pilot study.
abstract: Survivability characteristics after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI) are unclear but may be useful for advanced care planning discussions with patients. Retrospective evaluation from records of all SCI patients over 10 yr at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest was performed. Demographic data and other common measurements were recorded. Thirty-six male subjects were identified, and only two patients survived to discharge (5.5% survival rate), both of whom were admitted for nonacute issues and were asymptomatic shortly before the cardiac arrest. The mean age at the time of cardiopulmonary arrest was 62.4 yr, with a mean time from cardiac arrest to death of 3.02 d. No significant demographic parameters were identified. Overall, SCI likely portends worse outcome for acutely ill patients in the situation of a cardiac arrest. Conclusions are limited by sample size.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: David X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Cifu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: CPR; SCI; VA hospitals; Veteran population; advanced care planning; cardiac arrest; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; inpatient; spinal cord injury; survival