Witnessed Cardiac Arrest by Nigerian Health Workers; Improving the Outcomes

• Main Authors: Queeneth Ndukwe Kalu (Author), Oku Oboko Oboko (Author), Oti Stephen (Author), Kalu Ndukwe Nwaogburu (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Global Journal of Anesthesiology - Peertechz Publications, 2018-10-26.
• Subjects: Review Article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

<p><strong>Aim</strong>: To assess the involvement of health workers in Cross River State, Nigeria with CPR during</p><p>witnessed sudden cardiac arrest and the resources available to them for intervention.</p><p><strong>Settings and Design</strong>: The study was carried out in Cross River State, Southern Nigeria which has an</p><p>international boundary with Cameroon in the East. It is a descriptive, Cross sectional study among health</p><p>workers.</p><p><strong>Methods and Material</strong>: Consenting health workers belonging to the various categories who met the</p><p>eligibility criteria were selected using the non-probability method. They included; Doctors, Pharmacists,</p><p>Nurses, Laboratory scientists, Physiotherapists, Optometrists, Radiographers and Anaesthetic</p><p>Technicians. Those who declined to complete the questionnaire were excluded.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis used</strong>: Descriptive statistics (frequency proportions, means and standard</p><p>deviation) was used to summarize variables. The level of signifi cance was set at P<0.05</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: One hundred and eighty-two (52.8%) out of the 345 respondents surveyed, had witnessed and been involved in CPR for cardiac arrest. Common sites of witness were the ward (79, 43.4%), A & E unit (36, 19.8%), theatre (27, 14.8%), home (23, 12.6%) and ICU (17, 9.4%). Approximately half of respondents (50.5%) were involved in chest compressions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), while 45.1%, 36.3%, 31.3%, 28.6% and 22.0% were involved in oxygen therapy, IV fl uid therapy, rescue breathing, IV adrenaline therapy and transportation to hospital, respectively. Only 13.2% performed defi brillation as part of the CPR. Approximately half of respondents (48.9%) had participated in successful CPR. Contribution to successful CPR were attributed to immediate recognition (38.2%), prompt CPR (38.2%), oxygen therapy (30.3%), adrenaline administration (20.2%) and fl uid therapy (19.1%).</p>