OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARRESTS - AN 8-YEAR NEW-YORK-CITY EXPERIENCE

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the outcome of out of hospital cardiac arrests by one prehospital system in New York City f rom January, 1986, through December, 1993. The results were recorded c onsistent with the Utstein Style. Of 481 attempted patient resuscitati ons 406 were of cardiac etiology, with 382 patients having arrested pr ior to EMS arrival; their overall survival rate was 2.1% (8/382). Card iac arrests were witnessed in 246 patients, Of the witnessed arrest pa tients found in ventricular fibrillation (96/246), the overall surviva l rate was 7.3% (7/96). Of the 7 survivors who were discharged from th e hospital, 71.4% (5/7) had a good cerebral performance/good overall p erformance, Of 24 patients who arrested in the presence of EMS, the su rvival rate was 12.5% (3/24). This study confirms a poor survival rate for patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrests in New York Ci ty. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company.