CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY - A 2-YEAR STUDY

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of c ardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac surgery and to find p redictors of survival. Design: A retrospective study with data obtaine d by chart review. Setting:A university hospital 24-bed cardiac surgic al intensive care unit (ICU). Participants: Between 1993 and 1994, 4,9 68 consecutive adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the aut hors' hospital were studied. Interventions: None. Main results: One hu ndred thirteen of these patients (2.3%) were resuscitated. Seventy-nin e patients (70%) survived to be discharged from the hospital. Signific ant predictors of survival were the time between admission to the ICU and initiation of CPR, CPR time, and creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB va lues. Conclusions: The incidence of CPR after cardiac surgery was 2.3% with no difference between valve surgery and CABG. Best results were achieved when arrhythmias or bleeding were the predisposing causes. Fu rther studies have to be undertaken concerning long-term results and q uality of life of the discharged patients. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.