Introduction In the Reykjavik area, a physician staffed ambulance -responded to cardiac arrests from 1982-2007. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of attempted pre-hospital cardiac resuscitations in the period from 2004-2007 and compare to previous studies.

Material and methods: All cases of attempted prehospital resuscitations in cardiac arrests of presumed cardiac etiology.  Data was gathered according to the Utstein template.

Results: Of a total of 289 cases in cardiac arrest, resuscitation was attempted in 279 and 200 of those were presumed to have a cardiac etiology. Men were 76% of the patients and the average  age was 67.7 years. Average response time was 6.3 min. One hundred and seven (54%) survived  to hospital admission and 50 (25%) survived to discharge compared to 16-19% in previous studies (p=0.16). The presenting rhythm was ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) in 50% of the cases, 30% was in asystole and 20% in pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Of those admitted to intensive care unit/ department and had ventricular fibrillation on the first rhythm strip 70% were discharged during 2004-2007 compared to 49% during 1999-2002 (p=0.01). Bystander CPR was provided in 62% of witnessed cases compared to 54% in a previous study (p=0.26).  One hundred and twenty (60%) were witnessed cases of which 37 (31%) survived to hospital discharge compared to 5 (8%)of non witnessed cases (p<0.01).

Conclusion: One in every four cardiac arrest patients in the Reykjavik area survives to discharge. This is similar to previous studies in the area (16-19%) and high compared to international studies 3-16%. Survival of those admitted to intensive care unit/ department and had ventricular fibrillation on the first rhythm strip was significantly higher compared to previous studies. Survival was found to be significantly higher if the cardiac arrest was witnessed.