Effects of resuscitation for patients with metastatic cancers and chronic heart disease

When records of 29 chronic heart disease and 34 metastatic cancer patients were studied for results of resuscitation efforts versus supportive care only efforts, 26 (90 percent) of the heart patients were given resuscitation while 3 (9 percent) of the cancer patients received such care. One (3 percent) heart patient received supportive care only and expired. Thirty (88 percent) of the cancer patients who received supportive care only expired. Of the patients who received resuscitation effort, 17 heart patients died immediately, 5 lived hours or days following the effort, and 4 were discharged from the hospital. Of the cancer patients who received resuscitative care, 2 expired immediately and 1 lived a few hours or days after the effort.