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Few young competitive athletes survive sudden cardiac arrest

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.

SourceThe Reis Group·JournalHeart Rhythm·DateJun 20, 2006

Manual vs device-assisted CPR

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.

SourceLA BioMed·JournalJAMA·DateJun 13, 2006

Even a little cooling helps after cardiac arrest

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.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateMay 18, 2006

Bringing hearts back to life

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.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJAMA·DateJan 5, 2006

Largest study of in-hospital cardiac arrest suggests how to improve outcomes for children and adults

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.

CPR performance does not follow guidelines

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.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJan 18, 2005

Implantable heart defibrillators

A prospective follow-up study found that implantable cardioverter defibrillators can significantly reduce the risk of recurring cardiac arrests after out-of-hospital incidents. Increasing access to these devices could have a substantial impact on reducing Canada's high mortality rate from sudden cardiac arrest.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateOct 25, 2004

NIH supports ice slurry at Argonne

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing an ice slurry procedure to cool the blood and brain cells after cardiac arrests, with the goal of improving survival rates. The ice slurry cools the brain by 2-5 degrees Celsius quickly, giving medics more time to revive normal blood flow and brain activity.

Near-death experience remains a mystery

A study of 344 cardiac patients who experienced a near-death experience (NDE) after cardiac arrest found that younger patients were more likely to report NDEs, while deeper experiences were more common among women. Longitudinal follow-up revealed increased beliefs in an afterlife and reduced fear of death among those with NDEs.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 14, 2001

Method to restart the heart after traumatic injury and bleeding caused it to stop may help save lives now almost certainly lost

Researchers at UNC developed a technique to deliver oxygen-carrying fluid to resuscitate the heart after cardiac arrest. The method, selective aortic arch perfusion (SAAP), has shown promising results in animal studies and may help save trauma victims by allowing surgeons to repair damage.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalCritical Care Medicine·DateNov 12, 2001

UT Southwestern researchers find automated external defibrilators are safe and effective aboard airplanes

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can save the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims aboard aircraft, with a survival rate of 40% in a two-year study. The smaller, automated device requires less training to use safely and is approved for airline use.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 25, 2000

Drug offers new hope for victims of cardiac arrest

Researchers at the University of Washington have found that amiodarone can save lives in patients who do not respond to defibrillation, improving resuscitation rates by nearly 30% compared to standard treatments. The drug showed particular benefits for women and those treated late in the course of resuscitation.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 16, 1999