Predicting outcome of inhospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation

We conducted a prospective study of CPR in our hospital in order to learn more of the factors influencing outcome. In a 7-month period, 71 patients underwent CPR. Twenty-nine (41%) were successfully resuscitated; of these, 13 (18% of the total group) survived to be discharged from the hospital. Factors associated with a successful outcome included occurrence of cardiopulmonary arrest within 24 h of hospitalization, short duration of CPR, and the absence of cardiogenic shock, sepsis, acute renal failure, cancer, and pneumonia. Factors which did not influence outcome included the patients' age, sex, location in hospital during the arrest (general ward vs. intensive cardiac care unit), time of day of the arrest, or the participation of senior physicians or anesthesiologists in the resuscitation.