Aim: Cardiac surgery patients have different resuscitative
needs than other patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest,
this was addressed in the guidelines. However, it is unknown how widely
the guidelines are practiced, or a training protocol is followed in
different cardiac surgery units in Egypt. Methods: A
21-question survey is created and included: Participants demographics,
Prevalence of cardiac arrest, Cardiac arrest protocol, Emergency
resternotomy technique, Training protocols. Survey was disseminated
through social media messaging platforms during the period between
November 2020 and January 2021. Results: 95 responses were from
11 centres across Egypt. 68.5% of the respondents were surgeons, 76.8%
of participants were junior surgeons. For patients who go into VF after
cardiac surgery, respondents would attempt a median of 3 shocks with
only 24.2% commencing defibrillation shocks before external cardiac
massage, while the majority initiating CPR immediately and performing
emergency resternotomy in a median time of 10 mins. 56.8% would give 1
mg of adrenaline as soon the cardiac arrest was established. If a
surgeon was not available, only 36.8% of respondents would allow any
trained personnel to perform the emergency resternotomy. Only 9.5%
practice regularly on emergency sternotomies. 75% think tailored
training is important and staff should be oriented about it in the
future. Conclusion: An action plan is required to improve the
awareness of the junior surgeons with the Cardiac Advanced Life Support
Protocol.
Noradrenaline and External Cardiac Massage in Cardiac Arrest
