Implementation of a cardiopulmonary arrest registry in a secondary-level hospital

Abstract

Background. There are no publications in Colombia regarding the implementation of a hospital cardiopulmonary arrest registry despite the fact that the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) already in 1991 developed, in a meeting at Utsein Abbey in Norway, a form designed to compare and improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. The purpose of this work was to apply a cardiopulmonary arrest registry in the Utstein style at San Juan de Dios Hospital in Cali, in order to gather data concerning the reality of cardiopulmonary arrest, during the period between July and October, 2010. Methodology. Prospective observational study. A cardiopulmonary arrest form was developed and communicated, and all physicians who had participated in cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers during the study period were asked to complete the form. Results. There were 22 cases of cardiopulmonary arrest. Of these, 80 % happened in the emergency service, and 95 % were attended to by a general practitioner. Only 14 % of the records were filled correctly and, in 23 % of cases, the description had been written by the nursing staff instead of the physician. Conclusion. This study found that the vast majority of physicians do not fill a cardiopulmonary arrest form, even when they are aware of it. Commitment is lacking on the part of the government as well as the medical community regarding the correct implementation of this recommendation of critical importance for resuscitation research.