A prospective study of outcome of in-patient paediatric cardiopulmonary arrest

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few prospective studies of the incidence and outcome of paediatric in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest have been reported to enable quality assurance comparisons within and between institutions. METHODS: All cardiac and respiratory arrests and their management over a 41-month period in children not subject to palliative treatment or to a 'do not resuscitate' order were recorded and analysed using the Utstein template. RESULTS: Cardiac arrest occurred in a total of 111 of 104,780 admissions (1.06/1000) while respiratory arrest alone occurred in 36 (0.34/1000). Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 81 patients (73%) in cardiac arrest but only 40 (36%) were dischar..