An audit of perioperative cardiac arrest at Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Intraoperative cardiac arrests are not uncommon and are related to both surgical and anaesthetic factors. This study aimed to examine the factors which predispose to a periopeartive cardiac arrest, to assess the appropriateness of therapy and the outcome.

All perioperative cardiac arrests in adults that occurred in a one year period(January 2003 to December 2003) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital were prospectively studied. All patients less than 16 years and cardiac arrests occurring outside the direct supervision of the anaesthetists were excluded. Study variables included demographic data, ASA score, urgency of surgery, surgical procedure, aetiology, time and duration of arrest, cardiac arrest rhythm, management as well as immediate outcome and survival to hospital discharge.

Thirteen cardiac arrests occurred in 2147 cases (incidence of 6 per 1000). The mean age of patients was 30.23 +/- 11.06 years. Ten patients had anASA score greater than 3. Hypovolaemia was responsible for arrests in 9 patients. Two arrests occurred at induction, 7 intraoperatively and 4 postoperatively. Seven patients had non-VF/VT rhythms. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was instituted immediately. The mean duration of arrest was 25.66 +/- 13.34 minutes. Drug and defibrillator therapy were inadequate. Immediate survival occurred in 5 patients (38.46%). Factors associated with significant difference in recovery from a cardiac arrest were type of surgery (p=0.043) and duration of resuscitation (p=0.022)

Majority of cardiac arrests were due to hypovolaemia from massive blood loss. There is a need for the provision of adequate banked blood as well as improvement in training in the management of in-hospital cardiac arrest to ensure a better outcome.