Initial Rhythm and Resuscitation Outcomes for Patients Developing Cardiac Arrest in Hospital: Data From Low-Middle Income Country

Background

Health care resource allocation remains challenging in lower middle income countries such as Kenya with meager resources being allocated to resuscitation and critical care. The causes and outcomes for in-hospital cardiac arrest and resuscitation have not been studied.

Objectives

This study sought to determine the initial rhythm and the survival for patients developing in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods

This was a prospective study for in-hospital cardiac arrest in 6 Kenyan hospitals from July 2014 to April 2016. Resuscitation teams were utilized to collect data during resuscitation using a standardized protocol. Patients with do-not-resuscitate orders, trauma, postsurgical, and pregnancy-related complications were excluded. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS)— systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and responsiveness—was determined based on worst parameters at least 4 hours prior to the arrest.

Results

A total of 353 patients with cardiac arrest were included over 19 months. The mean age was 61 years, 53.5% were male, and admission diagnoses included cardiovascular disease (15%), pneumonia 18.13%, and cancer 9%. The mean MEWS was 4.48 and low, intermediate, and high MEWS were found in 25.8%, 29.5%, and 44.8%, respectively. The mean time to cardiopulmonary resuscitation was 0.84 min. The initial rhythm was asystole in 47.6%, pulseless electrical activity in 38.2%, ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in 5.4%, and unknown in 8.8%. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurred in 29.2% of patients with the mean time to ROSC being 5.3 min. ROSC occurred in 17.3% of patients with asystole, 40.7% in pulseless electrical activity, 57.9% in ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, and 25.8% in patients with an unknown rhythm. Of all patients, 16 (4.2%) were discharged alive.

Conclusions

Nonshockable rhythms account for the majority of the cardiac arrests in hospitals in a lower middle income country and are associated with unfavorable outcomes. Future work should be directed to training health care personnel in recognizing early warning signs and implementing appropriate measures in a resource-scarce environment.