Articles tagged with Cardiac Arrest
Local laws and insurance reimbursement policies prevent EMS workers from implementing national guidelines on transporting cardiac arrest patients. Community misperceptions about hospital care also hinder efforts to terminate unsuccessful resuscitation efforts.
Researchers at University of Michigan and University of Utah are conducting a multi-center trial to investigate whether lowering body temperature can prevent or reduce brain damage in children who suffer cardiac arrest. The Therapeutic Hypothermia After Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (THAPCA) Trials will randomize children into two therapy g...
A study published in Journal of Intensive Care Medicine found that patients who received coronary angiography after cardiac arrest were twice as likely to survive without significant brain damage. Coronary angiography, an imaging procedure that shows blood flow through the heart, was independently associated with good neurologic outcomes.
A new statewide program requires automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in N.C. high schools to address inadequate emergency planning and increase use of life-saving devices. The study found that most schools lacked concise action plans, needed more AEDs, and struggled with coordinating EMS responses.
Yale researchers discover a link between anger and sudden cardiac arrests, which claim 400,000 lives annually. The study found that patients with T-wave alternans, a measure of electrical instability, were more likely to experience arrhythmias after a mental stress test.
Researchers found that every second of compression pause reduces the likelihood of successful return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) by 1%. Effective CPR requires minimal interruptions, with powerful chest compressions being crucial.
The 'chain of survival' improved out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in Japan by increasing bystander CPR, early defibrillator use, and advanced life support. The study found a significant decrease in delay times and an increase in neurologically intact survivors.
A recent Penn study found that patients who receive care at large, urban, and teaching hospitals have a higher chance of survival after cardiac arrest compared to those in small, rural non-academic hospitals. The study also suggests that patients cared for in high-volume intensive care units are more likely to survive.
Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences found that gasping in cardiac arrest patients increases their chances of survival. In over half of witnessed cases, patients gasped after collapsing, and those who did survived at a higher rate than those who didn't.
A new study presented at CHEST 2008 reveals that propofol, an anti-seizure drug, can be fatal in patients with refractory status epilepticus. The use of propofol for extended periods and high doses increased the risk of severe side effects, including cardiac arrest and death.
A new study suggests that a simple five- or three-part rule can identify which cardiac arrest victims need hospital transportation, allowing EMS crews to use scarce resources wisely. The three-part rule may be sufficient to identify 99.8 percent of those who need to be transported.
Researchers validated criteria to identify out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with little or no chance of survival after resuscitation. The validation study used surveillance data from 8 U.S. cities and found that the BLS rule had a positive predictive value of 0.998 for predicting lack of survival.
A study of emergency medical services-treated cardiac arrest outcomes in 10 areas in North America found a five-fold difference in survival rates. The incidence and outcome of cardiac arrest varied significantly across geographic regions.
Researchers analyzed data from over 5,500 cardiac arrest cases to determine the effectiveness of transporting patients to hospitals. The study found that applying the Basic Life Support Rule or Advanced Life Support Rule would have saved approximately 1,645 and 245 trips to the hospital, respectively.
A large study found that ICDs improve longevity without significantly affecting the quality of life for heart failure patients. Researchers monitored patients' quality of life scores over 30 months and found improvements at 3-12 months, but differences diminished over time.
Regular exercise training can create ambiguity with cardiac pathologic conditions, highlighting the need for thorough screening strategies. Pre-participation cardiovascular screening has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes by up to 89% in Italy.
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks are presenting their findings on stroke and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at a conference in New York. The studies aim to understand the underlying causes of these conditions and explore potential new treatments for brain damage.
A study published in Critical Care journal found that patients who survive cardiac arrest without severe neurological disabilities can expect fair long-term survival and good quality of life. The allocation of resources to treat heart attack patients is equally justified as other intensive care patient groups, according to the research.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that extracorporeal life support (ELS) combined with conventional CPR significantly improves survival rates in adult hospital patients who experience cardiac arrest. ELS enhances coronary blood flow and keeps heart tissue alive, leading to better 30-day and 1-year survival outcomes.
Researchers found that people admitted on weekends after cardiac arrest are more likely to die due to lack of resources and improved resuscitation efforts outside hospitals. The study also revealed men tend to survive better than women and cardiac arrest patients are getting younger.
Researchers found that survival rates were similar between households with an AED and those without, despite underuse of AEDs. The study suggests that both AEDs and CPR are crucial in responding to sudden cardiac arrests at home.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) placed in homes do not significantly improve survival odds for patients who experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals. Instead, education and modification of risk factors are key to primary prevention of heart disease.
Patients treated with minimally interrupted cardiac resuscitation (MICR) had higher survival rates than those receiving standard treatments. Implementing MICR, a new approach to limit interruptions of chest compressions, resulted in increased blood flow and reduced harm.
Patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrests at night or on weekends have a significantly lower chance of survival than those who arrest during weekday evenings. This is due to decreased detection and treatment effectiveness, potentially resulting from patient, staff, and hospital factors.
Research found that 30% of patients with ventricular arrhythmia received life-saving defibrillation more than two minutes after cardiac arrest, leading to significantly lower survival rates. Hospital characteristics, such as small size and lack of continuous monitoring, were associated with delayed defibrillation.
Two large-scale studies found no statistically significant difference in survival rates between Chest-Compression-Only CPR and traditional CPR with mouth-to-mouth breathing. This contradicts previous guidelines that recommended interrupting chest compressions for breaths.
New research suggests transplanting kidneys from donors who died after cardiac arrest could increase the donor pool. A study found comparable short-term results between kidneys donated after cardiac death and brain death, with similar survival rates for patients and transplanted organs.
Using CPR combined with bystander use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) significantly increases the chances of surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study found that when bystanders provided CPR and attached an AED, survival increased to 36 percent – approximately four times that of CPR alone.
A $2 million federal grant will help the OHSU Cardiac Arrhythmia Center pinpoint those at greatest risk of sudden cardiac arrest due to left ventricular hypertrophy. The study aims to improve identification and prediction methods, potentially averting disaster before it happens.
The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators is increasing in Canada but remains lower than in the US. In adults who survived a cardiac arrest, the rate increased from 5.4% to 26.7% between 1995 and 2003. The devices are considered safe and effective for people at risk of life-threatening rhythm disturbances.
A simple procedural change has significantly reduced cardiopulmonary arrests outside a pediatric hospital's intensive care unit. The American Heart Association recommends calling the cardiac emergency team at warning signs of respiratory problems or heart issues, rather than waiting for CPR initiation.
A study published in The Lancet found that cardiac-only resuscitation (chest compressions only) yields better outcomes than conventional CPR, especially for patients with apnea or shockable cardiac rhythms. This approach may increase bystander-initiated resuscitation efforts and improve survival rates.
A study published in The Lancet found that chest-compression-only resuscitation boosts survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study analyzed 4,068 cases of witnessed collapse and found a 19.4% favorable neurological survival rate when bystanders administered chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations.
A new resuscitation approach called Cardiocerebral Resuscitation has been shown to improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. The technique, which eliminates mouth-to-mouth breathing, enhances the willingness of lay individuals to engage in resuscitation.
Researchers created a prototype just-in-time support device that provides guidance on administering CPR and assessing victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The device improved performance to the level of American Heart Association guidelines, increasing the number of people able to provide life-saving treatment.
A study published in JAMA found that recent syncope, QTc interval duration, and sex are significant independent predictors of cardiac arrest and sudden death in adolescents with LQTS. The study identified nearly 12 times the risk for life-threatening events among patients with 1 syncopal episode in the last 2 years.
A new study finds that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have a greater than 20% chance of being recalled for potential malfunction over the past decade. The devices, used to resuscitate victims of sudden cardiac arrest, are complex medical devices that can sometimes malfunction.
A study analyzed FDA recalls and safety alerts involving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and accessories between 1996 and 2005. The findings show that AEDs were recalled in 9 of 10 years, with electrical or software problems being the most common cause.
A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology can predict the outcome for patients in a coma after CPR with great accuracy. The tests used to make these predictions include absent pupillary reflexes and corneal reflexes, as well as absent motor responses three days after cardiac arrest.
The study will enroll up to 20,000 patients in North America over two years, testing new saline solutions for trauma patients and a unique airway valve for cardiac arrest. The research aims to improve circulation and oxygenation in critically ill patients.
A study published by The Reis Group found that the survival rates of young competitive athletes experiencing sudden cardiac arrest are significantly lower than expected, even with proper CPR and defibrillation. The authors suggest that underlying heart conditions may be a major factor contributing to these poor outcomes.
A study found that manual chest compressions were more effective than automated devices in treating out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The research, published in JAMA, also showed that the device associated with worse neurological outcomes in survivors.
A multicenter study found no significant difference in survival rates between automated LDB-CPR and manual CPR after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, another study showed improved outcomes with the use of an automated device, including higher survival rates to hospital discharge.
The LBD-CPR device's effectiveness is influenced by its use details, including patient population selection and deployment timing. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests claim over 1,000 daily US lives.
A randomized study found that victims of sudden cardiac arrest were more likely to survive manual CPR rather than mechanical chest compressions. The study, conducted in five North American cities, involved over 1,000 participants and showed a significant difference in survival rates between the two groups.
A new study found that a clot-busting drug can revive cardiac arrest patients with a 26% success rate, compared to 12% for standard therapy. The treatment, tenecteplase, was administered to 50 patients who didn't respond to standard therapy and showed improved overall survival.
Abnormal rhythms were found to occur 27% of the time during cardiac arrests in children, with initial shockable rhythms having better outcomes than those developing later. Prompt defibrillator shocks improved survival rates, but subsequent VF had poor outcomes due to underlying heart disease or late diagnosis.
Researchers highlight disparities in bystander CPR for Latino victims of cardiac arrest. Therapeutic hypothermia also shows promise in reducing mortality and neurological damage after cardiac arrest.
Between 1996 and 2005, the FDA issued 52 advisories involving AEDs or accessories, affecting over 385,000 devices. More than one in five AEDs were recalled due to potential malfunctions, with electrical and software problems being the most common causes.
Researchers found that cooling a person by 2°C during the first day after resuscitation can significantly improve their chances of recovering from cardiac arrest. The study, which used rats to replicate human brain injury, showed that even modest cooling of the brain can have beneficial effects on recovery.
The study found that escalating biphasic energy regimens were more successful in terminating ventricular fibrillation (VF) and converting to an organized rhythm for secondary shocks. However, the difference was not seen in overall survival rates.
A national pilot study by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers showed that the use of ResQ-Valve with CPR increases short-term survival in patients with cardiac arrest heart rhythm called 'pulseless electrical activity'. The device facilitates venous blood return to the chest, increasing forward blood flow during CPR.
A landmark study published in JAMA found that children fare better than adults in surviving pulseless cardiac arrests with over 27% of children and 18% of adults surviving hospital discharge. The research, based on data from the National Registry of CPR, also highlights a need for refining emergency cardiovascular care procedures.
Researchers found that hospital caregivers need to tailor their resuscitations to a patient's situation, with respiratory failure more common than arrhythmia in adults. The study suggests that CPR may succeed more often than physicians believe, leading to better survival rates and neurological outcomes for children and adults.
A study by the University of Iowa found that 37% of high schools have defibrillators, but surprisingly, cardiac arrests are relatively uncommon in these schools, with a rate of about 2 percent per year. In contrast, senior centers had higher rates of cardiac arrests, with only 10% having defibrillators.
A study monitored 2640 competitive athletes with arrhythmias, finding that 62 reported cardiac arrests and 38 were resuscitated. Illicit drugs, particularly anabolic steroids, increase the risk of lethal arrhythmias in athletes. Monitoring and treatment are crucial for young athletes and elite competitors.
Untrained individuals can use automated external defibrillators quickly and safely after basic theoretical explanation. The performance improves dramatically after training, reducing response times from over a minute to under 1 minute.
A study found that chest compressions were given only 48% of the time without spontaneous circulation, with an average compression rate of 64/min. The researchers emphasize the importance of focusing on delivery of correct chest compressions during CPR to improve patient survival.
Researchers found that chest compressions during CPR are often too slow, shallow, and interrupted, while ventilation rates are usually too high. The study used an investigational monitor/defibrillator to measure CPR quality and compared the results to American Heart Association guidelines.
A study found that in-hospital CPR was often performed suboptimally, with many patients experiencing chest compression rates below 90 per minute and ventilation rates above 20/min. The researchers suggest that improving monitoring and feedback systems could help improve CPR quality.