Cardiac arrest: composition of resuscitation teams and training techniques: results of a hospital survey in German-speaking countries.

BACKGROUND

The long-term outcome of patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation depends heavily on swift and appropriate care. The aim of this study was to obtain data on the composition and training of resuscitation teams in specialist departments for internal medicine and anesthesiology.

METHODS

Between October 2006 and February 2007, 440 questionnaires were sent to departments for anesthesiology and internal medicine in Germany (hospitals with more than 300 beds) and to university hospitals in Switzerland and Austria.

RESULTS

The response rate was 38%. Of 166 participating hospitals, 152 have an emergency team. Resuscitation training (RT) takes place in 111 hospitals. Ninety-two hospitals (55%) hold a course more than once a year. Of those hospitals with RT, 86% use a simulation dummy, 77% conduct theoretical tutorials, and 65% follow a fixed algorithm.

CONCLUSION

The majority of hospitals that participated in this survey have an emergency team in place and organize resuscitation training for their medical personnel. The training varies greatly, however, in frequency, size of group, and qualification of the trainer. Implementation of standardized training for and management of in-hospital resuscitation measures might further hone staff skills and therefore improve the long-term outcome for the patients concerned.