Profile and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest in a paediatric emergency department

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the profile and outcome of patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in an emergency department (ED), from January to December 2017. Newborns of day one till children 14 years of age who suffered cardiac arrest during their stay in the ED of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan, were included in the study. The outcome variables were the return of spontaneous circulation and survival before final discharge from the ED. IHCA was observed in 935 (4.82%) out of the 19,385 children studied, while in 568 (61%) children spontaneous circulation was restored. Most of the patients who suffered IHCA were infants, i.e. 719 (77%). A significant association of return of spontaneous circulation and survival till final discharge from the ED was observed with age (p-value <0.001) and mode of arrival at the hospital (p-value <0.001). Thus, IHCA was reported in approximately five percent of patients and return of spontaneous circulation was reported in 61 percent.