New York state journal of medicine
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Four hundred sixty-three cases of cardiac arrest treated in the pre-hospital setting by advanced life support (ALS) or paramedic units in Monroe County, New York, were evaluated using Eisenberg's criteria, which define factors known to be critical for successful resuscitation. Forty-eight patients met the criteria of witnessed collapse and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within four minutes and ALS within ten minutes, with the initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Of these, 16 (33%) patients were discharged from the hospital. ⋯ Of the 171 patients who suffered witnessed arrests of cardiac origin, 20 survived to be discharged. This represents a successful resuscitation rate of 12%. These percentages are within the range noted for other ALS services in the United States.