The epidemiology of respiratory arrests in a teaching hospital

Abstract

AIMS: We aimed to characterise antecedent causes and outcomes of respiratory arrests occurring within a metropolitan tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit of respiratory arrests within our hospital over a 6-year period. Data were collected regarding patient characteristics, preceding clinical state, presumed causes and outcomes of arrests. We also compared outcomes of respiratory arrests to that of cardiac arrests occurring over the same period. RESULTS: We identified 82 respiratory arrests, occurring at a rate of 0.57/1000 inpatient admissions. Pre-existing respiratory, neurologic and cardiac disease was common, as was multi-morbidit..