Study background:
Cardiac arrest following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has the most complicated treatment and most uncertain prognosis from all acute coronary syndromes.
Study purpose:
To assess the outcome of all patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of cardiology department following AMI and subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) due to cardiac arrest in the period of six months.
Patients and methods:
11 patients (9 males, 2 females, mean age 62 (SD=±7) years) who were admitted to CCU due to AMI followed by cardiac arrest with CPR, were prospectively followed-up (including telephone interviews) for a minimum of 6 months. Parametric statistical methods were used for the assessment.
Results:
The mean time (from symptoms onset to the beginning of extended cardiopulmonary resuscitation by paramedics) was 6 (SD=±4)min. In 10 patients, the cause of cardiac arrest was ventricular fibrillation, in 1 patient asystole. The defibrillation was done during CPR in all patients. All patients also underwent coronary angiography. 10 patients were treated by coronary intervention with stent implantation. In 9 patients, the intervention was acute. 3 patients died at the intensive care unit, 1 patient died after 5 months due to sepsis. 3 patients are still hospitalized in county hospitals. 4 patients are looked after in the home care, visiting regularly cardiology outpatient clinic.
Conclusion:
When the modern methods of pre-hospital and acute coronary care are involved, more than 40% of patients could survive keeping the good quality of life. This should be assessed in the much larger series.
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