LONG-TERM FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF INPATIENT PEDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION

Objective. There is limited information published regarding the long-t erm outcome of pediatric survivors of inpatient cardiopulmonary resusc itation (CPR). The purpose of this study was to document the long-term (ie, greater than or equal to 1 year after the arrest) functional out come of children surviving inpatient CPR. Methods. We reviewed the med ical records of children (ie, less than 18 years of age) receiving adv anced CPR (ie, chest compressions, assisted ventilation, and resuscita tion medications) as inpatients in a tertiary care children's hospital . Prospective telephone follow-up of the survivors a minimum of one ye ar after the arrest was performed. A change in the survivors' Pediatri c Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale was determined. Results. Approximately half of the 92 subjects were diagnosed with sepsis syndr ome. None (0/44) of the patients with sepsis syndrome survived at one year. None (0/24) of the patients who experienced a single episode of advanced CPR greater than or equal to 30 min in duration survived one year. Although 36% (33/92) of the patients resuscitated were alive 24 h after their arrest, the proportion surviving fell steadily to 10% (9 /92) at one year. Although five of the nine survivors were moderately to severely disabled at one year, the majority (8/9) had little or no change in their PCPC score at one year compared to their prearrest lev el of function. Conclusions. Survival of inpatient pediatric CPR is sm all. Children surviving inpatient advanced CPR may have little or no c hange from prearrest function. The survival of hospitalized children w ith sepsis syndrome requiring CPR or receiving greater than > 30 min o f advanced CPR is extremely low.