Résumé
Objective > In France, the management of in-hospital emergencies (IHE) is little known despite expert recommendations from 2004. This study aimed to describe their process and organisation in university hospitals (UH).
Methods > In 2017, a multicentre, descriptive survey based on a questionnaire containing 27 questions sent electronically to the chief of anaesthesia resuscitation department was performed.
Results > Thirty-eight (out of 52) responses (73%) were collected and analysed. Most UH reported having a IHE process: applicable to all IHE for 29 (76%) and only dedicated to cardiac arrest for 8 UH (21%). A dedicated telephone number exists in 35 UH (92%). The contact is mainly EMS for 11 (29%), emergencies for 6 (16%) and resuscitation for 5 UH (13%). The interlocutor differs according to the time and/or the requesting service for UH 22 (58%). The intervention of the team of response to in-hospital emergencies (RRT: rapid response team) is carried out exclusively by the emergency team in 6 (16%), resuscitation in 5 (13%) and variable in 26 UH (74%). The RRT is composed of a senior physician in 36 (95%), a junior in 30 (79%), a nurse in 32 (84%) and a caregiver in 16 UH (42%).
Conclusion > A IHE process and a dedicated telephone number exist in the majority of French UH. While a senior physician is involved in most RRT, there are still great disparities in the constitution of the latter between emergencies, anaesthesia resuscitation and resuscitation.