Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.06.1982, Page 22

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LONG-TEEM POLIDW UP OF 49 PATIENTS VJHO SURVIVED CAPDIAC AEREST.
Einar Baldvinsson, Gudmundur Oddsscn, Thordur Hardarson,
Reykjavik City Hospital, I-fedical Department.
A report on long-tem results of the management of
cardiac arrest in 49 patients discharged from the Reykjavik
City Hospital Ifedical Department in the years 1970-1979. Their
ages ranged from seven to 86 years (mean age 58.7 years) .
Thirty two were men and 17 women. Iheir diagnoses were as
follows: acute nyocardial infarcticn 44, ventricular fibrill-
ation of unknown cause 3, cardiomyopathy 2. After discharge
from the hospital there was an annual mortality of about 16%
for the first four years. The causes of death were as follows:
sudden death 11, myocardial infarction 8, mesenteric thromb-
osis 2, congestive heart failure 1, shock after coronary by-
pass surgery 1.
A two to ten year follow-rp study was performed on the
26 patients alive in the year 1980. Twenty four patients were
in functional class I and II but only two patients in functicn-
al class III and IV (N.Y.H.A.). Fourteen patients had retumed
to work, 12 patients were unable to work, five of those had
severe cerebral damage.
Attenpts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation are worth-
while in view of the relatively good prognosis of patients
who survived cardiac arrest.