"Utstein style" spreadsheet and database programs based on Microsoft Excel® and Microsoft Access® software for CPR data management of in-hospital resuscitation

In 1997, The American Heart Association in association with representatives of the International Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) published recommended guidelines for reviewing, reporting and conducting in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes using the "Utstein style". Using these guidelines, we developed two Microsoft Office^® based database management programs that may be useful to the resuscitation community. We developed a user-friendly spreadsheet based on MS Office Excel^®. The user enters patient variables such as name, age, and diagnosis. Then, event resuscitation variables such as time of collapse and CPR team arrival are entered from a "code flow sheet". Finally, outcome variables such as patient condition at different time points are recorded. The program then makes automatic calculations of average response times, survival rates and other important outcome measurements . Also using the Utstein style, we developed a database program based on MS Office Access^®. To promote free public access to these programs, we established at http://www.cproutcomes.org a website. These programs will help hospitals track, analyze, and present their CPR outcomes data. Clinical CPR researchers might also find the programs useful because they are easily modified and have statistical functions.