Do we need cardiac arrest centres in Australia?

Intern Med J. 2012 Nov;42(11):1173-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02866.x.

Abstract

The mortality rate post admission to hospital after successful resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is high, with significant variation between regions and individual institutions. While prehospital factors such as age, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and total cardiac arrest time are known to influence outcome, several aspects of post-resuscitative care including therapeutic hypothermia, coronary intervention and goal-directed therapy may also influence patient survival. Regional systems of care have improved provider experience and patient outcomes for those with ST elevation myocardial infarction and life-threatening traumatic injury. In particular, hospital factors such as hospital size and interventional cardiac care capabilities have been found to influence patient mortality. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the possible development and implementation of Australian cardiac arrest centres.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support / education
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support / statistics & numerical data
  • Aftercare / organization & administration
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Cardiac Care Facilities / organization & administration
  • Cardiac Care Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Cardiac Care Facilities / supply & distribution*
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Delivery of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Disease Management
  • Emergency Medical Services / methods
  • Emergency Medical Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Goals
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced / statistics & numerical data
  • Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / etiology
  • Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / mortality
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / mortality
  • Myocardial Revascularization / statistics & numerical data
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / etiology
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / mortality
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
  • Patient Care Team
  • Registries
  • Treatment Outcome