Table 3 A series of questions on the conduct of an emergency resternotomy in patients who suffered a cardiac arrest

(6) Precordial thump (total)

95

(a) Witnessed

36

37.9%

(b) Heard of success

15

15.8%

(c) Have a go

14

14.7%

(d) Of little use

18

18.9%

(e) Potentially harmful

12

12.6%

(7) Defibrillation or ECM for VF

95

(a) Immediate ECM

72

75.8%

(b) Immediate defibrillation

23

24.2%

(8) Sequence of shocks for VF

95

(a) Three attempts, 2 min ECM then single shocks

34

35.8%

(b) Single attempts with 1 min ECM

12

12.6%

(c) Single attempts with 2 min ECM

35

36.8%

(d) Three attempts, ECM till resternotomy

14

14.7%

(9) When is adrenaline warranted

95

(a) As soon as possible

54

56.8%

(b) After 2 min of ECM

26

27.4%

(c) After 3‑5 min after ECM

8

8.4%

(d) Only after emergency resternotomy

1

1.1%

(e) Only in exceptional circumstances

6

6.3%

(15) Emergency resternotomy

95

(a) A surgeon should always do this

56

58.9%

(b) A trained non-surgeon could do this

35

36.8%

(c) Any non-surgeons could do this

4

4.2%

(17) Do you train for emergency resternotomy

95

(a) We never practise, not necessary

14

14.7%

(b) We never practise might be good idea

33

34.7%

(c) Informal talks and experience

11

11.6%

(d) We have occasionally practised

28

29.5%

(e) We regularly practise

9

9.5%

(18) Current guidelines for the ICU

95

(a) I advocate the ERC/AHA 2005 guidelines

67

70.5%

(b) I do not agree with these, we have our own protocol

1

1.1%

(c) I do not agree with these, we have no protocol

4

4.2%

(d) I have not read the ERC/AHA guidelines

23

24.2%

(19) Current training

95

(a) It is adequate currently but not tailored

17

17.9%

(b) We give additional training

7

7.4%

(c) Tailored training might be useful

18

18.9%

(d) Tailored training is important and should be given

53

55.8%