RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In-hospital cardiac arrest is still associated with a high mortality rate, due to late recognition of life-threatening processes such as progressive hypotension, or cerebral ischemia.The aim of the study was to analyse some selected parameters influencing early results of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: We analysed cardiopulmonary resuscitation reports, prepared following in-hospital cardiac arrests, according to the Utstein templates. In each case, resuscitation was performed according to the recent ERC guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty-eight reports were analysed. 16% of cardiac arrests were caused by defibrillation-susceptible cardiac rhythms, and 84% were non-defibrillation-susceptible. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 45% of cases: in 67% of defibrillation-susceptible cardiac rhythm arrests, and 40% of non-defibrillation-susceptible cardiac rhythm situations. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of cardiac arrest determines the early chance of survival in in-hospital cardiac arrest.