In-hospital cardiac arrest epidemiology in a mature rapid response system.

An audit examined the epidemiology of in-hospital cardiac arrests 5 years after a rapid response system was introduced, exploring the frequency of arrests in monitored and unmonitored areas. Details of the initial cardiac rhythm and what proportion of events were preceded by a medical emergency team call were also assessed.

The epidemiology of respiratory arrests in a teaching hospital.

Aims: We aimed to characterise antecedent causes and outcomes of respiratory arrests occurring within a metropolitan tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective audit of respiratory arrests within our hospital over a 6-year period. Data were collected regarding patient characteristics, preceding clinical state, presumed causes and outcomes of arrests.

Antecedents to cardiac arrests in a hospital equipped with a medical emergency team.

Background: Studies conducted before the conception of medical emergency teams (METs) revealed that cardiac arrests were often preceded by deranged vital signs. METs have been implemented in hospitals to review ward patients whose conditions are deteriorating in order to prevent adverse events, including cardiac arrest. Antecedents to cardiac arrests in a MET-equipped hospital have not been assessed.

The epidemiology and outcome of medical emergency team call patients treated with non-invasive ventilation.

Introduction: Use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is normally limited to the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU) or High Dependency Unit (HDU). However, NIV is sometimes used by the Medical Emergency Team (MET) as respiratory support for ward patients.

Objectives: We reviewed the characteristics and outcome of ward patients treated with NIV in the setting of a MET Call and determined the clinical and prognostic significance of such treatment.

Features and outcome of patients receiving multiple Medical Emergency Team reviews.

Background And Objectives: There is no information on the clinical features and outcome of patients receiving multiple Medical Emergency Team (MET) reviews. Accordingly, we studied the characteristics and outcome of patients receiving one MET call and compared them with those receiving multiple MET reviews.

Design: Retrospective observational study using prospectively collected data.

The medical emergency team and end-of-life care: a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the characteristics of patients who died in a teaching hospital and the role of the medical emergency team (MET) in their end-of-life care.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 105 deaths over the month of May 2005 by a blinded investigator, who documented patient age, parent hospital unit, comorbidities, presence and timing of not-for-resuscitation (NFR) designation, and presence and timing of first MET review. We analysed differences between medical versus surgical patients, NFR versus non-NFR patients, and MET-reviewed versus non-MET-reviewed patients.