Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Children in the Czech Republic

Overview

In 2000 and 2001 physicians of the Medical Emergency Service (MES) resuscitated in the CR 12 861 adults, i.e.125/100 000 population (on average 62.5/100 000 per year). Of these 5381, i.e. 41.80% were resuscitated successfully.During the same period 372 children (228 boys - 61.3%) aged under 14 years were resuscitated (on average 10.8/100 000per year). Resuscitation of children under 14 years was successful in 231 cases, i.e. 62.1%. These data pertain toprimary visits of MES (incl. flights of the airborn emergency service). While in adults the reason to startcardiopulmonary resuscitation is circulatory failure in ischaemic heart disease (1), the reasons for resuscitation inchildren were unknown. The authors addressed several MES and obtained 40 valid replies from all regions of theCR (i.e. 45% of the network of MES), among others they obtained information from territorial MES in Prague,Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Zlín, Jihlava, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem. Almost no information was obtained from thesouth and west Bohemian regions, while there was almost complete information from MES from the whole ofMoravia. In 2000 and 2001 the respondents resuscitated a total of 148 children (39.87% of all resuscitated subjectsin the given period) incl. 90 boys (39.87%). Resuscitation was successful in 86 children (i.e. 58.1%). As reasons forresuscitation the respondents report (listed by frequency): drowning (23.5%), polytrauma (18.5%), inflammatoryobstruction of the respiratory pathways (14.2%), arrhythmia and asphyxia in children with congenital heartdisease (10.1%), choking - strangulation, aspiration (8.4%), craniocerebral injuries (8.1%), sudden death syndromein infants (7%), unconsciousness (4.5%), intoxication (4.5%). Other causes were rare (sepsis, metabolicbreakdown, gun shot injury) or the reason for resuscitation was not given. Serious injuries and drowning combinedaccount for more than 50% of urgent resuscitation. Primary „cardiogenic“ reasons account for more than 10%.

Key words:
Czech Republic, years 2000 and 2001, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children, prehospitalizationurgent care