Background and objective: Resuscitation is the most important emergency action in a life-threatening cardiopulmonary arrest. The organizational, personnel and equipment requirements for an optimal treatment of emergency patients in a university hospital are described, as well as the short- and mid-term results.
Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of 132 cases of cardiopulmonary resuscitation based on a two-pages reporting form whose completion by the involved physician and intensive care nurse is mandatory after each event.
Results: About 65 % of all events were triggered by cardiac and respiratory causes. In 50 % of all cases there was an acute life-threatening situation, requiring an intubation in 46 % and mechanical reventilation in 42 % of all cases. One third of all patients who were successfully reanimated were discharged alive from hospital after the intensive care treatment.
Conclusion: A well organized and adequately equipped resuscitation team is the basis for achieving optimal chances of survival in life-threatening emergencies. This is especially so in large university hospitals with often care for patients with multiple morbidities.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.