Out of hospital cardiac arrest outside home in Sweden, change in characteristics, outcome and availability for public access defibrillation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A large proportion of patients who suffer from out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outside home are theoretically candidates for public access defibrillation (PAD). We describe the change in characteristics and outcome among these candidates in a 14 years perspective in Sweden.

Methods

All patients who suffered an OHCA in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted between 1992 and 2005 and who were included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Register (SCAR). We included patients in the survey if OHCA took place outside home excluding crew witnessed cases and those taken place in a nursing home.

Results

26% of all OHCAs (10133 patients out of 38710 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Within this group, the number of patients each year varied

SUBMITTER: Ringh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2678978 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature