Data collection and retrieval to document the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In this presentation from the Wolf Creek IV Conference, the panel reviewed data requirements for documenting the processes and outcomes associated with the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It was recognized that this was a multifaceted task and that at least three areas warrant consideration: a) emergency medical services system management, b) monitoring and improving the quality of care, and c) the establishment of databases for research. There was complete agreement that the desired outcome is the victim's survival with intact neurologic function. However, the means of improving outcome, short of speedy initiation of treatment, were less clear. It was suggested that the Utstein guidelines, modified for practicability, can serve as a framework to characterize the arrest and to describe the temporal aspect of interventions. However, it was recognized that there were major deficits in understanding the importance of specific interventions, including their timing. Additionally, means to evaluate the quality of care delivered on the scene are usually wanting. The availability of recording electrocardiograms with accompanying voice was regarded as a major opportunity to better monitor the care that was delivered at the scene. Some of the problems incurred with cardiopulmonary resuscitation research in animals were discussed.