Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in the intensive care unit: An experience from a tertiary hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one the most commonly performed procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, success rate of CPR vary widely from 3.1% to 16.5%. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all cardiac arrests prompting CPR in our ICU for a period of 12 months. Data retrieved from ICU records included patients demographic characteristics, diagnosis at admission, length of ICU stay, time and day of cardiac arrest, cardiac rhythm, duration of CPR and outcome of CPR. RESULTS: A total of 156 CPRs were performed within the study period with 8.3% success rate. Male: female ratio was 1.2:1. Indications for ICU admission, length of stay in ICU, time and day of cardiac and duration of CPR were found to be determinants of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to constitute a cardiac arrest team (CAT) which will be available at all times for improved successful outcome after cardiac arrest in our ICU.