[The results of resuscitations in an emergency service]

In a prospective study 166 consecutive cases of prehospital resuscitation by emergency doctors were analysed to ascertain those factors which affect the ultimate outcome. Cardiac causes were most frequent (69%): primary ventricular fibrillation was the most common ECG diagnosis (47%). Average time from definite cardiorespiratory arrest until onset of resuscitation procedures by an emergency doctor was 8.2 minutes, to first measures by other resuscitation personnel it was 6.6 minutes. In all cases in which resuscitation procedures were undertaken (in 33 within 10 minutes) this was done by medical personnel who were nearby by chance. 47 patients (28.3%) could be resuscitated and taken to hospital; 16 of them (9.6%) were discharged after "finally successful resuscitation", 13 without any neurological deficit. Favourable factors were: primary ventricular fibrillation and start of resuscitation manoeuvres within 10 minutes. These results highlight the need for training first-aid personnel so that the number of successful resuscitations can be increased.