Factors associated with survival and eventual cerebral status following cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrests at two acute hospitals were investigated over a 5-month period. The outcome expressed as short-term and long-term survival was correlated with diagnosis, age, sex and technical details of the resuscitation. Survivors were followed up for 3 months to detect any remaining cerebral deficit. Of 108 patients who suffered cardiac arrest, 23 (21.3%) survived to be discharged from hospital, 58 (53.7%) died immediately and 27 (25%) survived for periods ranging from 1 hour to 30 days following cardiac arrest, before eventual death. Evidence of cerebral impairment was present initially in three patients (2.7%) at discharge from hospital. After 3 months however cerebral impairment was present in only one patient (0.9%). Survival was highest in patients suffering ventricular fibrillation following myocardial infarction where 16 out of 35 (47%) survived. Certain groups of patients were identified where the ultimate survival was predictably nil. Although some survived for short periods it was concluded that the attempted resuscitation in these patients was inappropriate and unjustified.