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Epidemiology of perioperative cardiac arrest and mortality in Brazil: a systematic review

Abstract

Background and objectives:

The perioperative cardiac arrest (CA) and mortality rates in Brazil, a developing country, are higher than in developed countries. The hypothesis of this review was that knowledge of the epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality in Brazil enables the comparison with developed countries. The systematic review aimed to verify, in studies conducted in Brazil, the epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality.

Method and results:

A search strategy was carried out on different databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO and LILACS) to identify observational studies that reported perioperative CA and/or mortality up to 48 hours postoperatively in Brazil. The primary outcomes were data on epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality. In 8 Brazilian studies, there was a higher occurrence of perioperative CA and mortality in males; in extremes of age; in patients in worse physical status according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA); in emergency surgeries; in general anesthesia; and in cardiac, thoracic, vascular, abdominal and neurological surgeries. The patient's disease/condition was the main triggering factor, with sepsis and trauma as the main causes.

Conclusions:

The epidemiology of both perioperative CA and mortality events reported in Brazilian studies does not show important differences and, in general, is similar to studies in developed countries. However, sepsis represents one of the major causes of perioperative CA and mortality in Brazilian studies, contrasting with studies in developed countries in which sepsis is a secondary cause.

KEYWORDS
Anesthesia; Cardiac arrest; Mortality; Perioperative period; Systematic review

Resumo

Justificativa e objetivos:

As incidências de parada cardíaca (PC) e de mortalidade perioperatória no Brasil, um país em desenvolvimento, são mais elevadas em relação às dos países desenvolvidos. A hipótese desta revisão é que o conhecimento da epidemiologia de PC e de mortalidade perioperatória no Brasil possibilita sua comparação com a dos países desenvolvidos. A revisão sistemática teve como objetivo verificar, em estudos realizados no Brasil, a epidemiologia de PC e de mortalidade perioperatória.

Conteúdo:

Realizou-se estratégia de busca em diferentes bases de dados (PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO e LILACS) para a identificação de estudos observacionais que reportaram PC e/ou mortalidade perioperatória até 48 horas pós-operatório no Brasil. Os desfechos primários foram dados de epidemiologia de PC e de mortalidade perioperatória. Em 8 estudos nacionais, identificou- se maior ocorrência de PC e de mortalidade perioperatória no sexo masculino, em extremos de idade, em pacientes em pior estado físico segundo a American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), em cirurgias de emergência, em anestesia geral, e em cirurgias cardíaca, torácica, vascular, abdominal e neurológica. A doença/condição do paciente foi o principal fator desencadeante, tendo como causas principais a sepse e o trauma.

Conclusões:

Nos estudos nacionais, a epidemiologia dos eventos tanto de PC como de mortalidade perioperatória não apresenta diferenças importantes, e de maneira geral, é semelhante à de estudos de países desenvolvidos. Entretanto, a sepse, nos estudos nacionais, representa uma das principais causas de PC e de mortalidade perioperatória, diferenciando-se dos estudos de países desenvolvidos nos quais a sepse é causa secundária.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE
Anestesia; Parada cardíaca; Mortalidade; Período perioperatório; Revisão sistemática

Background

Of all complications of surgical patients, cardiac arrest (CA) is one of the poorest outcomes, as it can precede sequelae, loss of function and, in the worst-case scenario, death.

Brazil is a developing country that, over the years, has found it very difficult to provide universal and adequate quality health care to its population. Review of studies developed in Brazil have found a reduction in the perioperative CA rates over the last 25 years, following the global trend.11 Vane MF, Do Prado RXN, Aranha GF, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: an evolutionary analysis of the intra-operative cardiac arrest incidence in tertiary centers in Brazil. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2016;66:176-82.

Studies performed in Brazil have shown that the poor preoperative physical status of patients is one of the most important factors for the occurrence of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. and mortality,22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.

5 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

6 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94.
-77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. with sepsis as the main cause of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and mortality.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. On the other hand, studies conducted in the United States, a developed country, found that sepsis represents a secondary cause of these events.88 Newland MC, Ellis SJ, Lydiatt CA, et al. Anesthetic-related cardiac arrest and its mortality: a report covering 72,959 anesthetics over 10 years from a US teaching hospital. Anesthesiology. 2002;97:108-15.,99 Ellis SJ, Newland MC, Simonson JA, et al. Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest. Anesthesiology. 2014;120:829-38. Therefore, pre-anesthetic management of comorbidities is critical for minimizing perioperative complications.

Considering the major difference in pre-hospital and in-hospital care between developed and developing countries, and the higher perioperative CA and mortality rates in developing countries compared to developed countries,1010 Koga FA, El Dib R, Wakasugui W, et al. Anesthesia-related and perioperative cardiac arrest in low- and high-income countries: a systematic review with meta-regression and proportional meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94:e1465.,1111 Bainbridge D, Martin J, Arango M, et al. Perioperative and anaesthetic-related mortality in developed and developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2012;380:1075-81. our hypothesis for the current review was that better understanding of the epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality in Brazil would allow the comparison with developed countries.

The systematic review aimed to scrutinize the epidemiology (risk factors, triggering factors, and causes) of perioperative CA and mortality in studies carried out in Brazil.

Method

As a systematic review, the study did not require approval from the Ethics in Research Committee.

Strategy for search and selection of studies

We performed the literature review complying with EQUATOR's instructions and with the methodological checklist for writing systematic reviews of observational studies (Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology - MOOSE).1212 Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group. JAMA. 2000;283:2008-12. Databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy for the identification of CA and perioperative mortality studies, using index terms (e.g., MeSH - MEDLINE), including a complete list of synonyms referring to the terms covered in the study: an(a)esthesia and cardiac arrest or mortality. The search strategy was adapted for each database in order to achieve greater sensitivity and identification of relevant studies.

Data were obtained from the following databases: US National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE via PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Scientific Electronics Library Online (SciELO) and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) for the identification of articles that reported perioperative CA or mortality in Brazil. The date of the last search was December 18, 2018.

Three reviewers (LGB, RS and ACM) made the initial selection of study titles and abstracts independently. The studies considered relevant were obtained in full and reviewed by two independent reviewers (LGB and ACM). Differences in results were discussed and solved. When there was more than one study published on the same population group, data from the most recent and/or complete article were extracted.

Inclusion criteria for articles were observational studies that reported the epidemiology of CA and/or mortality up to 48 hours postoperatively in Brazil, in complete publications. We excluded articles with specific populations (e.g., children, older age), specific surgeries (e.g., cardiac surgery), a single type of anesthesia (e.g., regional anesthesia), a particular physical status (e.g., ASA physical status I) and case reports.

Data extraction and definition of outcomes

Two of the authors (LGB and ACM) independently identified the studies to be included in the review complying with inclusion criteria previously detailed. Dedicated standard forms were used to extract relevant data related to the epidemiology of perioperative CA or mortality: risk factors ( sex, age, classification of patients’ physical status according to the ASA physical status classification, type of surgical care, surgical specialty and type of anesthesia), triggering factors and their causes ( patient's disease/condition, surgery or anesthesia), in addition to survival after CA. Discrepancies were solved after discussion with a third reviewer (JRCB). Data were extracted after defining the studies that would be included in the systematic review.

The primary outcomes assessed were data on epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality.

Results

Selection of studies

We identified 14,132 citations in the databases and 3 citations through references. After reviewing titles and abstracts, we excluded 5,387 duplicate studies and 8,734 studies for lack of relevance. We identified 14 potentially relevant articles to undergo a more comprehensive assessment. Of these, we selected eight articles according to the inclusion criteria, with four studies on perioperative CA and eight studies on perioperative mortality (Fig. 1). The first study included was published in 1986, and the most recent in 2018. The description of perioperative CA and mortality studies included in the review is shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 1
Flowchart for selection of articles (CA, cardiac arrest; *Some studies were used in more than one category).

Table 1
Description of perioperative cardiac arrest studies.
Table 2
Description of perioperative mortality studies.

Risk factors for perioperative CA and mortality

Sex

A Brazilian study showed that there was no significant difference of perioperative CA rate in relation to sex in patients ≤ 17 years; however, there was a significantly higher perioperative CA rate in male patients ≥ 18 years compared to females; two other studies also found a higher proportion of perioperative CA in male patients.33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.

As for perioperative mortality, studies showed a higher proportion of events in males,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.,1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. but in the only study in which statistical analysis was performed, no significant difference in rate was found between sexes.55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

Age

Compared to the young adult age range (18-35 years), the extremes of age showed a significant higher perioperative CA and mortality rates. In neonates (0-30 days), the perioperative CA and mortality rates were 9.7 and 9.1 times higher, respectively; in children from 31 days to < 1 year, 3 and 9.3 times higher, respectively; and in the older patients ≥ 65 years, 4 and 5.9 times higher, respectively.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

ASA physical status classification

Patients presenting worse physical status (ASA III-V) had a higher perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. and mortality44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.

5 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

6 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94.
-77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. rates compared to ASA I-II patients. Studies have shown 360 times higher CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and 2,296 times higher perioperative mortality55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. rates in patients with ASA III-V physical status compared to ASA I-II.

Surgical procedures

Studies performed in Brazil unanimously found a higher perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. and mortality44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.

5 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

6 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94.
-77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. rates during emergency surgeries compared to routine or urgent surgeries. Studies have shown CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and perioperative mortality rates,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. in emergency surgeries, 11 and 19 times higher, respectively, when compared to those in routine surgery.

Surgical specialty

Brazilian studies have shown a higher occurrence of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. and mortality44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.

5 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.
-66 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94. in cardiac surgery, followed by vascular, thoracic, abdominal, neurological and orthopedic surgeries.

Type of anesthesia

The articles reported a higher occurrence of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. and mortality44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. in surgical procedures performed under general anesthesia in comparison to neuroaxial anesthesia , in proportions 82 and 195 times higher, respectively.

Triggering factors for perioperative CA and mortality

In the 1980s, the first Brazilian study on perioperative CA rate showed that surgery was the main triggering factor (49.3%), followed by anesthesia (36.1%), patient's disease/condition (14.1%) and in one patient (0.5%) the CA eliciting factor could not be determined. Regarding mortality, surgery was the main factor (77.7%), followed by the patient's disease/condition (13.2%) and anesthesia (9.1%).1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.

More recent Brazilian studies have shown that the perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. and mortality22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. rates was lower due to the anesthetic factor, while the patient's disease/condition was the main factor, followed by surgery for both perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. and mortality.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. Thus, a study22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. found proportions of perioperative CA and mortality, by patient disease/condition of 66% and 68%; by surgical factor of 25% and 27%; and by anesthetic factor of 9% and 5%. In only one Brazilian study, there was no mortality due to the anesthetic factor.55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.

Causes of perioperative CA and mortality

Patient's disease/condition and/or surgery-related

The main causes of perioperative CA66 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94. and mortality22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. due to patient's disease/condition and/or surgery were: sepsis, trauma, hemorrhage in surgeries associated with primary disease (cancer), cardiac surgery and rupture of aortic aneurysm. The proportion of sepsis in relation to other causes of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and mortality77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. were 25% and 35%, respectively, while trauma was 18.4% and 24%.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.

Anesthesia-related

In CA due to the anesthesia-related (factor), medication was considered as the main cause, followed by respiratory and airway complications in the first Brazilian study conducted in the 1980s.1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58. In the most recent Brazilian studies, respiratory and airway complications have become the main cause of CA by anesthesia-related, followed by cardiovascular complications.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.

Regarding mortality, one study showed pulmonary and airway complications as the main cause,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. while another study showed cardiovascular complications as the main cause.77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86.

Among the main pulmonary and airway events, we can highlight hypoxemia related to loss of airway, difficult tracheal intubation, orotracheal tube obstruction, pulmonary aspiration and complications related to double-lumen tube placement. Regarding cardiovascular complications, they were mainly associated with overdose of induction agents, high sympathetic block in neuraxial anesthesia, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias and anaphylactic shock.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86.

Perioperative CA survival

Brazilian studies have shown proportions of return of spontaneous circulation after perioperative CA varying from 32.6% to 69%.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. One study showed survival after CA of 69% intraoperatively, 38% up to 24 hours postoperatively, and 25% up to 30 postoperatively days, with 46% of surviving patients (25%) with a Glasgow scale ≥ 14.1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. In this same study, the authors found a significant relationship between the worst physical status (ASA IV-V), in which there was no survival, and the best physical status (ASA I-III), in which there was survival of 40% of the patients up to 30 days after surgery.

Discussion

This is the first systematic review of studies performed in Brazil on the epidemiology of CA and mortality in the perioperative period. The results showed a higher occurrence of perioperative CA and mortality in male patients, extremes of age, patients in worse physical status (ASA III-V), emergency surgery, general anesthesia, and cardiac, thoracic, vascular, abdominal and neurological surgery. Patient's disease/condition was the main triggering factor for perioperative CA and mortality, with sepsis and trauma as the main causes.

The results are not different from those found in the international literature. Compared to female patients, men are more predisposed to trauma, violence1515 Carlucci MT, Braz JR, Do Nascimento P, et al. Intraoperative cardiac arrest and mortality in trauma patients. A 14-yr survey from a Brazilian tertiary teaching hospital. PLoS One. 2014;9:e90125. and vascular diseases.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. Consequently, studies from both developing1616 Charuluxananan S, Chinachoti T, Pulnitiporn A, et al. The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of perioperative death: analysis of risk factors. J Med Assoc Thai. 2005;88:S30-40.,1717 Gong CL, Hu JP, Qiu ZL, et al. A study of anaesthesia-related cardiac arrest from a Chinese tertiary hospital. BMC Anesthesiol. 2018;18:127. and developed countries1818 Goswami S, Brady JE, Jordan DA, et al. Intraoperative cardiac arrests in adults undergoing noncardiac surgery: incidence, risk factors, and survival outcome. Anesthesiology. 2012;117:1018-26.

19 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.

20 Kim SH, Kil HK, Kim HJ, et al. Risk assessment of mortality following intraoperative cardiac arrest using POSSUM and P-POSSUM in adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Yonsei Med J. 2015;56:1401-7.

21 Lienhart A, Auroy Y, Péquignot F, et al. Survey of anesthesia-related mortality in France. Anesthesiology. 2006;105:1087-97.

22 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70.
-2323 Whitlock EL, Feiner JR, Chen LL. Perioperative mortality, 2010 to 2014: a retrospective cohort study using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesthesiology. 2015;123:1312-21. reported a higher occurrence of perioperative CA,1717 Gong CL, Hu JP, Qiu ZL, et al. A study of anaesthesia-related cardiac arrest from a Chinese tertiary hospital. BMC Anesthesiol. 2018;18:127.

18 Goswami S, Brady JE, Jordan DA, et al. Intraoperative cardiac arrests in adults undergoing noncardiac surgery: incidence, risk factors, and survival outcome. Anesthesiology. 2012;117:1018-26.

19 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.
-2020 Kim SH, Kil HK, Kim HJ, et al. Risk assessment of mortality following intraoperative cardiac arrest using POSSUM and P-POSSUM in adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Yonsei Med J. 2015;56:1401-7.,2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70. as well as mortality1616 Charuluxananan S, Chinachoti T, Pulnitiporn A, et al. The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of perioperative death: analysis of risk factors. J Med Assoc Thai. 2005;88:S30-40.,2121 Lienhart A, Auroy Y, Péquignot F, et al. Survey of anesthesia-related mortality in France. Anesthesiology. 2006;105:1087-97.,2323 Whitlock EL, Feiner JR, Chen LL. Perioperative mortality, 2010 to 2014: a retrospective cohort study using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesthesiology. 2015;123:1312-21. in male patients.

Similar to Brazilian results, recent studies carried out in a developed country (the US) showed a significant higher perioperative CA1919 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.,2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70. and mortality2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70. rates in children under one year of age and in the older patients over 65. Therefore, extremes of age remain the age groups at higher risk for perioperative CA and mortality events and they should merit greater attention and care from the anesthesiologist. Prematurity, congenital heart and neurological diseases and other congenital disorders in children, as well as clinical conditions associated with aging, are the factors that predispose both groups to a greater risk in comparison to young adults.22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,2424 Bhananker SM, Ramamoorthy C, Geiduschek JM, et al. Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest in children: update from the Pediatric Perioperative Cardiac Arrest Registry. Anesth Analg. 2007;105:344-50.

25 Braghiroli KS, Braz JRC, Rocha B, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related cardiac arrest in geriatric patients: a systematic review using meta-regression analysis. Sci Rep. 2017;7:2622.

26 Gonzalez LP, Braz JR, Módolo MP, et al. Pediatric perioperative cardiac arrest and mortality: a study from a tertiary teaching hospital. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2014;15:878-84.
-2727 Nunes JC, Braz JR, Oliveira TS, et al. Intraoperative and anesthesia-related cardiac arrest and its mortality in older patients: a 15-year survey in a tertiary teaching hospital. PLoS One. 2014;9:e104041.

A study carried out in a developed country showed that perioperative CA and mortality rates in patients with physical status ASA III-V, were 38 and 374 times higher, respectively, in comparison to patients with physical status ASA I-II.2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70. In Brazilian studies perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and mortality22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. rates in patients physical status ASA III-V compared to ASA I-II patients were 61 and 2,295 times higher, respectively. A study conducted in Brazil revealed that many older patients arrived to the operating room without optimizing their comorbidities, increasing the likelihood of anesthetic and surgical complications.2727 Nunes JC, Braz JR, Oliveira TS, et al. Intraoperative and anesthesia-related cardiac arrest and its mortality in older patients: a 15-year survey in a tertiary teaching hospital. PLoS One. 2014;9:e104041.

Brazilian22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86.

8 Newland MC, Ellis SJ, Lydiatt CA, et al. Anesthetic-related cardiac arrest and its mortality: a report covering 72,959 anesthetics over 10 years from a US teaching hospital. Anesthesiology. 2002;97:108-15.

9 Ellis SJ, Newland MC, Simonson JA, et al. Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest. Anesthesiology. 2014;120:829-38.

10 Koga FA, El Dib R, Wakasugui W, et al. Anesthesia-related and perioperative cardiac arrest in low- and high-income countries: a systematic review with meta-regression and proportional meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94:e1465.

11 Bainbridge D, Martin J, Arango M, et al. Perioperative and anaesthetic-related mortality in developed and developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2012;380:1075-81.

12 Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group. JAMA. 2000;283:2008-12.

13 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.
-1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. and international studies1818 Goswami S, Brady JE, Jordan DA, et al. Intraoperative cardiac arrests in adults undergoing noncardiac surgery: incidence, risk factors, and survival outcome. Anesthesiology. 2012;117:1018-26.,1919 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.,2323 Whitlock EL, Feiner JR, Chen LL. Perioperative mortality, 2010 to 2014: a retrospective cohort study using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesthesiology. 2015;123:1312-21. have revealed a higher risk of critical events, such as CA and death in emergency procedures compared to routine procedures. In emergency, the unfeasibility of ideal optimization of patients’ pathophysiological conditions increases the occurrence of hemodynamic instability, surgical complications, such as profuse bleeding, infections and sepsis with multiple organ failure, in addition to thromboembolic phenomena.1717 Gong CL, Hu JP, Qiu ZL, et al. A study of anaesthesia-related cardiac arrest from a Chinese tertiary hospital. BMC Anesthesiol. 2018;18:127.

Studies performed in Brazil22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.

3 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.

4 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.
-55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. and developed countries, such as Germany1919 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72. and the United States,2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70.,2323 Whitlock EL, Feiner JR, Chen LL. Perioperative mortality, 2010 to 2014: a retrospective cohort study using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesthesiology. 2015;123:1312-21. have described a higher perioperative CA and mortality rates during general anesthesia compared to neuraxial blockade. Suitability of the anesthetic technique regarding physical status, comorbidities and type of surgery suggests general anesthesia as the technique of choice for critically ill patients and for higher risk surgeries, such as cardiac, thoracic and neurosurgery. Additionally, the introduction of new local anesthetics with less cardiac and central nervous system toxicity, associated with the introduction of ultrasound in anesthesiology, have enabled performing more accurate anesthesia blockades, and less likely blockade failures and systemic toxicity.2828 Neal JM. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and patient safety: update of an evidence-based analysis. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016;41:195-204.

In some surgery specialties, such as thoracic, neurological, vascular, but especially cardiac, Brazilian22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208. and international2929 Flick RP, Sprung J, Harrison TE, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrests in children between 1988 and 2005 at a tertiary referral center: a study of 92,881 patients. Anesthesiology. 2007;106:226-37.,3030 Noordzij PG, Poldermans D, Schouten O, et al. Postoperative mortality in The Netherlands: a population-based analysis of surgery-specific risk in adults. Anesthesiology. 2010;112:1105-15. authors have shown a higher perioperative CA and mortality rates.

Trauma was reported as an important cause of perioperative CA and mortality in Brazil,22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14.,3131 Toledo FO, Gonzalez MM, Sebbag I, et al. Outcomes of patients with trauma and intraoperative cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2013;84:635-8. in other developing countries,3232 Siriphuwanun V, Punjasawadwong Y, Saengyo S, et al. Incidences and factors associated with perioperative cardiac arrest in trauma patients receiving anesthesia. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:177-87. and also in developed countries.88 Newland MC, Ellis SJ, Lydiatt CA, et al. Anesthetic-related cardiac arrest and its mortality: a report covering 72,959 anesthetics over 10 years from a US teaching hospital. Anesthesiology. 2002;97:108-15.,99 Ellis SJ, Newland MC, Simonson JA, et al. Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest. Anesthesiology. 2014;120:829-38. Currently in Brazil, mortality due to trauma is the third cause of death, behind cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, trauma due to external causes appears as the main cause in the 1 to 49 years age group, particularly in young men.3333 Malta DC, Minayo MCS, Filho SAM, et al. Mortality and years of life lost by interpersonal violence and self-harm: in Brazil and Brazilian states: analysis of the estimates of the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990 and 2015. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2017;20:142-56. In Brazil, the main causes of perioperative CA in trauma were motor vehicle accidents (62.7%) and violence (29.4%).1515 Carlucci MT, Braz JR, Do Nascimento P, et al. Intraoperative cardiac arrest and mortality in trauma patients. A 14-yr survey from a Brazilian tertiary teaching hospital. PLoS One. 2014;9:e90125.

In Brazilian studies compared to other factors, sepsis represents a frequent cause of perioperative CA22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75. and mortality,77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. 25% and 35%, respectively. The latter values are higher than in other developing countries (13.6%)1616 Charuluxananan S, Chinachoti T, Pulnitiporn A, et al. The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of perioperative death: analysis of risk factors. J Med Assoc Thai. 2005;88:S30-40. and contrast with a study performed in the US,88 Newland MC, Ellis SJ, Lydiatt CA, et al. Anesthetic-related cardiac arrest and its mortality: a report covering 72,959 anesthetics over 10 years from a US teaching hospital. Anesthesiology. 2002;97:108-15. which found sepsis as a causal factor for only 4.9% and 7.1% of cases of perioperative CA and mortality, respectively. It should be highlighted that Brazil has one of the highest sepsis mortality rates worldwide.3434 Silva E, Cavalcanti AB, Bugano DD, et al. Do established prognostic factors explain the different mortality rates in ICU septic patients around the world? Minerva Anestesiol. 2012;78:1215-25. The asymmetrical behavior of the causes of perioperative CA and mortality described in developing and developed countries demonstrates the great difference in healthcare among countries. In developing countries, such as Brazil, the inadequacy of primary and secondary care extends to tertiary care and is associated with insufficient number of beds (both in wards and in anesthesia and intensive care units)contributing to the maintenance of a high perioperative CA and mortality rates.1010 Koga FA, El Dib R, Wakasugui W, et al. Anesthesia-related and perioperative cardiac arrest in low- and high-income countries: a systematic review with meta-regression and proportional meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94:e1465.,1111 Bainbridge D, Martin J, Arango M, et al. Perioperative and anaesthetic-related mortality in developed and developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2012;380:1075-81.,3535 Bharati SJ, Chowdhury T, Gupta N, et al. Anesthesia in underdeveloped world: present and future challenges. Niger Med J. 2014;55:1-8.,3636 Falcão LFR, Badessa GG. A importância da anestesia e otimização perioperatória no cenário econômico da saúde. Anestesia Rev. 2018;68:8-15.

Unlike Brazilian studies,22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62. a recent study from a developed country (Germany) showed that cardiovascular complications overcome pulmonary and airway complications as the most important causes of CA events due to the anesthesia-related.1919 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.

More recent studies in developed countries have observed survival after perioperative CA in proportions similar to those obtained in Brazilian studies, from 42% to 62%.1919 Hohn A, Machatschek J-N, Franklin J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of anaesthesia-related perioperative cardiac arrest. A 6 year observational study from a tertiary care university hospital. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2018;35:266-72.,2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70.,3737 Hur M, Lee HC, Lee KH, et al. The incidence and characteristics of 3 month mortality after intraoperative cardiac arrest in adults. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2017;61:1095-104.,3838 Sobreira-Fernandes D, Teixeira L, Lemos TS, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrests - a subanalysis of the anesthesia-related cardiac arrests and associated mortality. J Clin Anesth. 2018;50:78-90.

Perioperative CA has different characteristics from CA outside the operating room because it usually occurs in the presence of the medical team and, often, anticipated because the causal factors are, in most cases, already known.3939 Moitra VK, Einav S, Thies KC, et al. Cardiac arrest in the operating room: resuscitation and management for the anesthesiologist: Part 1. Anesth Analg. 2018;126:876-88. Moreover, patients are monitored with venous access, and resuscitation equipment is readily available. These factors enable starting focused resuscitation fast, leading to possible reversal of CA.

It should be noted that there are some important limitations in Brazilian studies. In relation to perioperative CA and mortality events, there is still no objective definition of the period of time that should be considered. Some Brazilian studies have considered only events that occurred in operating room facilities (operating room and post-anesthesia care unit).22 Braz LG, Módolo NS, Do Nascimento P, et al. Perioperative cardiac arrest: a study of 53,718 anaesthetics over 9 yr from a Brazilian teaching hospital. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:569-75.,33 Braz JRC, Silva ACM, Carlos E, et al. Parada cardíaca durante anestesia em Hospital Universitário de atendimento terciário (1988 a 1996). Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1999;49:257-62.,55 Pignaton W, Braz JR, Kusano PS, et al. Perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality: an 8 year observational survey from a tertiary teaching hospital. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95:e2208.,1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. Others take into account the period in the operating room together with the postoperative period, ranging from the first 24 hours44 Chan RPC, Auler JOC. Estudo retrospectivo de incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de 86.641 anestesias. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2002;52:719-27.,66 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94. or up to 48 hours postoperatively.77 Stefani LC, Gamermann PW, Backof A, et al. Perioperative mortality related to anesthesia within 48 h and up to 30 days following surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 11,562 anesthetic procedures. J Clin Anesth. 2018;49:79-86. Considering that CA and death are very rare events in the perioperative period, the number of surgical patients included in the studies becomes very important for better analysis. The number of patients included in Brazilian studies is relatively low, always less than 100 thousand patients, whereas in many studies in developed countries the number exceeds 1 million patients.2222 Nunnally ME, O'Connor MF, Kordylewski H, et al. The incidence and risk factors for perioperative cardiac arrest observed in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. 2015;120:364-70.,4040 Kazaure HS, Roman SA, Rosenthal RA, et al. Cardiac arrest among surgical patients: an analysis of incidence, patient characteristics, and outcomes in ACS-NSQIP. JAMA Surg. 2013;148:14-21.,4141 Kawashima Y, Takahashi S, Suzuki M, et al. Anesthesia-related mortality e morbidity over a 5 year period in 2,363,038 patients in Japan. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2003;47:809-17. Brazilian studies were carried out only in tertiary care university public institutions and there still are no multicenter studies. Another limitation is that some studies have excluded certain types of surgery, which generally have a high occurrence of critical events, such as cardiac surgery.66 Cicarelli DA, Gotardo AO, Auler JOC, et al. Incidência de óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas. Revisão de prontuários de 1995 no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1998;48:289-94.,1313 Ruiz Neto PP, Amaral RVG. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in a multicenter hospital. A descriptive study. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 1986;36:149-58.,1414 Sebbag I, Carmona MJC, Gonzalez MMC, et al. Frequency of intraoperative cardiac arrest and medium-term survival. São Paulo Med J. 2013;131:309-14. Thus, more studies are required to validate the results of the current review and to monitor any changes in the epidemiology of perioperative CA and mortality in patients in Brazil.

Conclusion

The epidemiology of both perioperative CA and mortality events reported in Brazilian studies does not show important differences and, in general, is similar to that of studies in developed countries. The main risk factors for CA and mortality events were neonates, children under one year of age, the older patients, male sex, physical status ASA ≥ III, emergency surgery, and general anesthesia in cardiac, thoracic, vascular, abdominal and neurological surgery. The clinical status of the patient is the main triggering factor for the occurrence of perioperative CA and mortality, followed by surgery and, finally, anesthesia. Sepsis represents one of the main causes of perioperative CA and mortality in Brazilian studies, contrasting with the causes in studies in developed countries.

Acknowledgements

Rafael Sanchez and Mariana Pacchioni received a scientific initiation scholarship from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq:125054/2016-5 and 148523/2018-8, respectively).

References

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    10 Aug 2020
  • Date of issue
    Mar-Apr 2020

History

  • Received
    12 July 2019
  • Accepted
    8 Feb 2020
  • Published
    28 Apr 2020
Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia R. Professor Alfredo Gomes, 36, 22251-080 Botafogo RJ Brasil, Tel: +55 21 2537-8100, Fax: +55 21 2537-8188 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjan@sbahq.org