Canadian Medical Association journal
-
Sixty-six patients more than 30 days and less thant 16 years of age suffering an unexpected cardiac arrest in an 18-month period were included in a study of resuscitative measures in children. Six children survived to be discharged from hospital. Respiratory disease accounted for most (29%) of the cardiac arrests, but it also had the most favourable prognosis, 21% of the 19 patients surviving. ⋯ The interval between cardiac arrest and application of basic life support was substantially shorter among the survivors. Also, most of the survivors did not present with asystole. The results of this study suggest that survival among resuscitated children is no better than that among adults but can be improved with early recognition and monitoring of children at risk. earlier application of basic and advanced life support, improved education of medical and lay personnel, and further research into pediatric resuscitative techniques.
-
In an attempt to determine the relation between duration of coma and neurologic recovery following cardiac resuscitation 163 survivors of cardiac arrest from Winnipeg, Manitoba and Aarhus, Denmark were studied. The age of the patients did not influence the outcome. ⋯ The three who wakened after 72 hours had severe brain damage and required permanent care in an institution. It was concluded that recovery of communicative brain function is unlikely if coma persists longer than 72 hours after cardiac arrest and that full recovery cannot be expected after 24 hours of coma.