Retrospective Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Emergency Department

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate demographic data of patients who were arrested in an emergency department and outside the hospital, who died despite effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how they were admitted to the emergency department, blood parameters, additional diseases, and duration of CPR. Methods: Two hundred two patients whose complete records can be accessed were included in the study. Demographic data of patients, emergency department arrival patterns, vital signs, additional diseases, blood gas pH, lactate, base minus values, CPR duration and adrenaline doses used in CPR were recorded. Results: Two hundred twenty-one (59.90%) of the patients were male and 81 (40.09%) were female. Of the men, 69 (57.02%) were in the emergency department and 52 (42.97%) were outside the hospital. Fifty (61.72%) of the women were arrested in the emergency department and 31 (32.27%) were arrested outside the hospital. The average age of men was 70 and the average age of women was 80. In the group with non-hospital arrest, there was a significant difference between base minus, lactate and pH values in arterial blood gas compared to the group with in-hospital arrest. Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary arrest is a very important health problem that is common in emergency departments and has a high rate of mortality. The society should be made aware of early diagnosis, timely and correct intervention, and rapid transfer of arrested cases outside the hospital. Advanced age, concomitant comorbid diseases, and prolonged CPR times are directly associated with mortality.