Author/Editor		Tadel, Špela; Horvat, Matija; Noč, Marko
Title		Treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Ljubljana: outcome report according to the "Utstein" style
Type		članek
Source		Resuscitation
Vol. and No.		Letnik 38
Publication year		1998
Volume		str. 169-76
Language		eng
Abstract		We investigated survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Ljubljana according to the 'Utstein' style. Ljubljana consists of urban, suburban and semi-rural communities which encompass an area of 1615 km2 with 397306 residents. The area is served by a single response emergency medical system and local family practitioners. Between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1997 cardiac arrest was confirmed in 966 patients. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted in 454 patients (47%). Collapse of presumed cardiac etiology (337 patients) was either by stander-witnessed (89%), un-witnessed (9%) or EMS personnel-witnessed (2%). Asystole was documented in 55%, ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia in 36% and other non-perfusing rhythms in 9% of these patients. Lay-bystander basic life support was performed in 19%. Nineteen patients (5.6'%,) survived to hospital discharge and 12 of them were independent in daily life. The survival of subgroups with bystanders-witnessed collapse and bystanders-witnessed ventricular fibrillation was 6.4 and 13%, respectively. Collapse of non-cardiac etiology (117 patients) was preceded by either respiratory failure (41), politrauma (22), circulatory shock (19), cerebrovascular incident (ten), intoxication (nine), strangulation (seven), electrocution (five) or drowning (four patients). Only five patients (4.2%) survived to hospital discharge. Hospital treatment of patients after successful initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation was associated with high mortality and required considerable resources.
Descriptors		ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS DROWNING AGED ELECTRIC INJURIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FAMILY PRACTICE HEART ARREST LIFE SUPPORT CARE MULTIPLE TRAUMA RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY SHOCK SLOVENIA TREATMENT OUTCOME