Intensive care unit admission following successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation: resource utilization, functional...

A retrospective review of consecutive admissions (n = 285) to a university hospital intensive care unit (ICU) following cardiopulmonary resuscitation was conducted to determine long-term outcome, length of stay (LOS), and ICU resource consumption. Ninety-four patients (33%) survived to hospital discharge. Hospital survivors had longer ICU LOS than non-survivors (5.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.4 days, P < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (22.5 +/- 3.7 vs. 2.9 +/- 1.2 days, P < 0.001). Average laboratory and pharmacy costs per admission were greater in hospital survivors than non-survivors. Most patients returned to their pre-arrest homes functionally independent and 58% of hospital survivors were alive 2 years after discharge. It is possible that attempts to appropriately limit therapy in patients with poor prognosis may help direct resources towards patients who will benefit.