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Outcomes of Skilled Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Long‐Term‐Care Facility: Futile Therapy?
Author(s) -
Awoke Sissay,
Mouton Charles P.,
Parrott Marian
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb02109.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , resuscitation , asystole , emergency medicine , long term care , intensive care unit , demographics , retrospective cohort study , intensive care medicine , medical emergency , nursing , demography , sociology
Objective To assess whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by in‐house physicians is effective for long‐term‐care residents. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Long‐term‐care facility with an intermediate care unit, “skilled” care unit, and a convalescent and assessment unit at a retirement community for veterans. Participants All residents resuscitated from April 1987 to August 1990. All participants were male. The mean age was 75 years ± 7.3 (range 42–93 years). Main Outcome Measurements Charts were abstracted for demographics, advanced directives information, information about the arrest, and post‐resuscitation course. Results Forty‐five elderly residents underwent resuscitation during this period. Nine residents (20%) were successfully resuscitated, with seven dying within 24 hours of hospitalization. No residents survived to return to long‐term care (95% CI, 0–7%). The diagnoses were consistent with age‐related chronic disease. Seventeen (38%) arrests were witnessed. The predominant rhythm at onset of resuscitation was asystole. Conclusion We conclude that cardiopulmonary resuscitation, even when performed by a trained and experienced physician and team, has limited benefit for elderly long‐term‐care populations.