Journal of palliative medicine
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To describe the postresuscitative hospital course of emergency department patients who initially survive nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OOHCA) but die in the hospital. ⋯ In this urban setting, approximately three of four OOHCA patients who are initially resuscitated do not survive to hospital discharge. This short in-hospital course post-CPR is often marked by pain and ends with the withdrawal of life support. This information may be an important component of advance planning discussions and may assist patients as they weigh the pros and cons associated with resuscitation preferences.