The effects of establishing a quick-response resuscitation system on cardiopulmonary arrest survival

Abstract EN

Objective: To evaluate the effects of establishing a quick-response resuscitation system on cardiopulmonary arrest survival. Methods: A new system was set up to allow a team of trained physicians, pediatricians, anesthetists, critical care nurses and respiratory technicians to reach patients quickly to start resuscitation of in-hospital ward patients in cardiopulmonary arrest as soon as possible.

The records of consecutive resuscitative attempts in the year prior to initiating the new system (206 patients) and the two years following the initiation of the system (456 patients) were examined. Results: The time of arrival of the resuscitation team was cut down by the new system from 10 minutes to 1 minute and 15 seconds.

The time to first defibrillation was also reduced from 14 minutes to 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

The survival of patients after 24 hours in the ICU following resuscitation was increased from 3.9 % prior to the new system to 41 % and the rate of discharge of patients from hospital was increased from 2.5 % to 22.8 %. Conclusion: The most notable improvement in the system was the decrease in the time needed to reach the patient and to first defibrillation, when needed.

This has resulted in a significant improvement in survival rate of patients with cardiopulmonary arrest in general hospital wards.