2012 Volume 51 Issue 12 Pages 1517-1521
Objective The present study was undertaken to determine the characteristics and outcome of in-hospital cardiac arrests and the effectiveness of BVM ventilation with airway adjuncts including the oropharyngeal airways and nasopharyngeal airways.
Methods Information about in-hospital cardiac arrests over a period of 6 years was retrospectively collected, and the effectiveness of BVM ventilation with airway adjuncts was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results During the study period, 105 (male, n=70; age, 68.6±14.2 years) cardiac arrests occurred, of which 95.2% developed among inpatients and 21.0% of them were witnessed. The initial rhythm of cardiac arrests was pulseless electrical activity in 63.8% (67/105) and respiratory failure (44.8%) was the most common cause. Overall, a return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 76.2% of in-hospital cardiac arrests, 31.4% survived to discharge, and the neurological outcome was good (cerebral performance category-1) in 66.7% of them. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with airway adjuncts improved the neurological outcome (OR 3.52, 95%CI 1.07, 11.5).
Conclusion Bag-valve-mask ventilation with airway adjuncts improved neurological outcomes.
