Outcomes of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study

Background: The study was performed to evaluate the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among patients who suffered cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: We carried out a single-center study. Retrospective hospital records were reviewed for patients admitted to the ICU from January 2020 to May 2022. Data included patient demographics, reason for ICU admission, presence of comorbidities, rhythm at arrest, achievement of return of spontaneous circulation, number of CPR attempts, cause of arrest, use of inotropes/vasopressors before arrest, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status, and survival rate. Results: A total of 544 patients were admitted to the ICU during the study period. Seventy-five patients suffered cardiac arrest. CPR was conducted in 59 patients. Sixteen patients were declared DNR before cardiac arrest occurred. Only one patient survived among those who received CPR. Quantitative data were expressed in numbers, while the Mid-P exact test was the test of significance to determine the relationship between the use of inotropes/vasopressors before arrest and survival of the patients. Conclusions: Of 59 patients who received CPR, only one patient (1.7%) made it to hospital discharge, indicating a very poor survival rate for critically ill patients.