Long-term functional outcome of inpatient pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Objective. There is limited information published regarding the long-term outcome of pediatric survivors of inpatient cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The purpose of this study was to document the long-term (ie, greater than or equal to 1 year after the arrest) functional outcome of children surviving inpatient CPR. Methods. We reviewed the medical records of children (ie, less than 18 years of age) receiving advanced CPR (ie, chest compressions, assisted ventilation, and resuscitation medications) as inpatients in a tertiary care children's hospital. Prospective telephone follow-up of the survivors a minimum of one year after the arrest was performed. A change in the survivors' Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale was determined. Results. Approximately half of the 92 subjects were diagnosed with sepsis syndrome. None (0/44) of the patients with sepsis syndrome survived at one year. None (0/24) of the patients who experienced a single episode of advanced CPR greater than or equal to 30 min in duration survived one year. Although 36% (33/92) of the patients resuscitated were alive 24 h after their arrest, the proportion surviving fell steadily to 10% (9/92) at one year. Although five of the nine survivors were moderately to severely disabled at one year, the majority (8/9) had little or no change in their PCPC score at one year compared to their prearrest level of function. Conclusions. Survival of inpatient pediatric CPR is small. Children surviving inpatient advanced CPR may have little or no change from prearrest function. The survival of hospitalized children with sepsis syndrome requiring CPR or receiving greater than > 30 min of advanced CPR is extremely low.