OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation and identify short- and long-term survival prognostic factors. METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-two (452) resuscitated patients in general hospitals from Salvador were prospectively assessed through bivariate and stratified analysis in associations between variables and survival curve for a nine-year evolution assessment. RESULTS: Age ranged from 14 to 93 years old, mean of 54.11 years old. Male gender patients prevailed and half of them had at least a base disease. Cardiovascular disease was the responsible etiology in 50% of cases. Cardiac arrest was observed in 77% of cases and only 69% of patients were immediately resuscitated. Initial cardiac rhythm was not diagnosed in 59% of patients. Asystole was the most frequent rhythm (42%), followed by ventricular arrhythmia (35%). Immediate survival was 24% and hospital discharge survival 5%. Cardiac arrest etiology, initial cardiac rhythm diagnosis, ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia as arrest mechanism, pre-resuscitation estimated time lower than or equal to 15 minutes and resuscitation time lower than or equal to 5 minutes were recognized as short-term prognostic factors. Non-administration of epinephrine, being resuscitated in private hospital and resuscitation time lower than or equal to 15 minutes were nine-year evolution survival prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Data may help healthcare professionals decide when start or stop in-hospital resuscitation.
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; cardiac arrest; prognosis; general hospitals
