Table 1

Episode and time characteristics vs. outcome


All episodes*
n = 221
Dead on scene
n = 132
ROSC
n = 57
Survived the episode*
n = 32

Episode characteristics









Location of arrest




ICU/CCU
27 (12%)
16
8
3 (11%, 4 to 28%)
Other (mainly wards)
160 (72%)
102
40
18 (11%, 7 to 17%)
Emergency department
34 (15%)
14
9
11 (32%, 19 to 49%)





Witnessed
163 (74%)
94
43
26 (16%, 11 to 22%)





CPR quality




2 – Good
123 (56%)
74
35
14 (11%, 7 to 18%)
1 – Intermediate
63 (28%)
41
13
9 (14%, 8 to 25%)
0 – None
35 (16%)
17
9
9 (26%, 14 to 42%)





Presenting rhythm




     VF/VT
90 (41%)
29
31
30 (33%, 24 to 44%)
     Asystole
66 (30%)
49
16
1 (2%, 0 to 8 %)
     PEA
65 (29%)
54
10
1 (2%, 0 to 8 %)





Time characteristics









Collapse-to-defibrillation, VF/VT




     Median with
     IQR (minutes)
4.0
(1.25, 6.75)
6.0
(3.5, 8)
4.0
(2.0, 6.0)
2.0
(1.0, 4.0)





Collapse-to-BLS, VF/VT




     Median with
     IQR (minutes)
1.0
(0.0, 2.0)
1.0
(0.0, 2.0)
1.0
(0.0, 1.0)
1.0
(0.0, 2.0)





Collapse-to-BLS, PEA/ASY




     Median with
     IQR (minutes)
1.0
(0.0, 2.0)
1.0
(0.0, 2.0)
1.0
(0.0, 4.0)
0.5
(0.25, 0.75)

*The number of episodes (n = 221) is higher than the number of patients (n = 217), as two patients arrested more than once (see text). ** Numbers in parenthesis are percentages with 95% confidence intervals

Skogvoll and Nordseth Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2008 16:11   doi:10.1186/1757-7241-16-11