Abstract:

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes after the activation of Code Blue in the hospital and in the emergency services. Material and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively between 1 January 2011 and 30 April 2013. The results were taken into account regarding the patients-who was in Code Blue state or developed cardiac arrest in emergency room- age, gender, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration, results of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the medicatiton used through cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Also, the service or the unit of which the patients were in, the time taken by the Code Blue Team to access the patient and the leader of the team’s expertise were enlisted. Results: The present study consists of 250 Code Blue cases and 311 emergency room (ER) cases. The patients that developed cardiac arrest in the emergency room were younger than Code Blue patients (p<0.05) but there was no difference regarding gender (p>0.05). Time taken to reach the patients and CPR duration were shorter in emergency department group and having response to CPR was higher in emergency department group. The arrest was mostly caused by asystole however, ventricular fibrillation was higher in the ER (p<0.05). Arrest patients that were Blue Coded had high infection rate (24.8%). Code Blue was mostly called by pulmonologists (24.4%) and internal medicine (20%), the call was most often responded by the same clinics as well. It was clear that age, time taken to reach the patient, cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration, medication used and ECG rhythm were factors on mortality. Conclusion: We believe that CPR success rates in emergency department higher than Code Blue group because of more experienced staff, quick access and more efficient intervention rooms. For more effective implementation of the Code Blue, number of experienced staff should be increased and acessing to patient should be more easy.

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