Objectives: The study assesses the results of the cardiac arrest resuscitations performed by the medical staff of the Emergency Department of The Clinical Emergency County Hospital from Târgu-Mureş in the year 2009.
Method: We conducted a prospective study between 01.01-31.12.2009, including the cardiac arrest cases occurred in the ED or brought with ongoing resuscitation from the pre-hospital setting. For the statistical study we used SPSS program, version 17; the χ2 tests and p values were determined to compare the data.
Results: We had a total of 186 cases of cardiac arrest, representing 0.47% of the total 39.074 patients assisted in the ED in 2009. The gender distribution of the cases showed a higher incidence in male (61%) and the most affected age groups ranged between 60–80 years. The patients with cardiac arrests presented various diagnosis: the highest incidence is acute coronary syndrome 32 patients (17%), followed by sepsis/MSOF 20 (11%), pneumonia/asthma 17 (9%), pulmonary embolism 17 (9%), stroke 13 (7%), etc. We have resuscitated successfully 42 patients, representing 22.58 % of the total 186 cases. All 42 patients were transferred to the hospitals departments. Out of the hospitalized patients, 25 died later on the wards and 17 (40.47%) survived and were discharged home, 6 from the Intensive Care Department and 11 from the Coronary Unit.
Conclusions: The results are comparable with the reported international data. The cases with cardiac arrest due to acute coronary syndrome, ventricular rhythms and those witnessed and treated early in the ED are having a better outcome.