Hohn A, et al. - In this study, the incidences of perioperative cardiac arrest and rates of anaesthesia-related and anaesthesia-contributory cardiac arrest were determined. Also, pre-existing risk factors leading to perioperative cardiac arrest were identified. Compared with published literature data, the overall perioperative incidence of cardiac arrest at researchers' institution was slightly lower, whereas rates of anaesthesia-related and anaesthesia-contributory cardiac arrest were comparable, as indicated in the first available European data on perioperative cardiac arrest from a large unselected cohort. Most cardiac arrests related to anaesthesia were attributed to respiratory events. It appeared that American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status grade at least 3, emergency surgery and pre-existing cardiomyopathy offered risk for cardiac arrest.