A ten-year-analysis of cardiopulmonary resuscitations in Celje emergency medical service

Aims

This study was performed to determine the survival rate among out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Celje EMS and to identify predictors of survival.

Methods

Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitations between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 1996 in Celje EMS were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

380 cardiac arrests were reported by the ambulance service in the same period. The patients' average age was 60.8 ± 17.4 years. 271 were males and 109 females. 86 (22.6%) resuscitations were successful. 40 (10.5%) patients were then discharged from hospital. The heart disease was the main cause for resuscitation in 73.4% of the patients. The average response time was 7.8 ± 5.6 min.

Survival was significantly greater with bystander-initiated CPR, initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia and shorter response times. There were no differences in age and etiology (cardiac versus non-cardiac) of cardiac arrest between successfully and unsuccessfully resuscitated patients.

Conclusions

The overall survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in our EMS is comparable with data published in other studies. Our data relieved improved survival rates when bystanders CPR was initiated and in an EMS system with short response time.

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