%0 Journal Article
%T Sudden Death as the Outcome of Cardiac Arrest, in a Portuguese Region: Where Do Resuscitation Manoeuvres Stand?
%A Rosa Henriques de Gouveia
%A Adriana Martins
%A Duarte Nuno Vieira
%J World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases
%P 227-232
%@ 2164-5337
%D 2015
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/wjcd.2015.58026
%X Cardiac Arrest (CA) is a major health problem, due to short and long-term sequel? and to associated mortality. Despite the improvement of out-of-hospital and in-hospital resuscitation manoeuvres, unexpected sudden fatal events occur. The authors reported the features of a series of sudden death (SD) cases where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed. Files of 1053 medico-legal autopsies, from victims aged ¡Ý18 years-old, were reviewed. Cardiac Arrest leading to Sudden Death were found in 477 cases (45.3%), but only 199 (42%) of these had been submitted to resuscitation manoeuvres. There was an elderly male predominance. Both non-cardiac and cardiac CA/SD causes were present, despite the higher coronary artery disease incidence. Both out-of-hospital and in-hospital events took place. Age, severity of the disease, comorbidities and predominance of out-of-hospital CA were obstacles to successful CPR, leading to SD. Knowing the population characteristics may help to improve Emergency Assistance.
%K Cardiac Arrest
%K Resuscitation Manoeuvres
%K Sudden Death
%K Portugal
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=59158