Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Myocardial disease and death from cardiac arrest remain significant public health problems. Sudden death events and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are encountered frequently by emergency medical services. Despite more than 30 years of research, survival rates remain extremely low. This article reviews access and presentations, demographics, OHCA outcomes, and response systems and processes in treatment of patients with arrest in this setting.
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Cardiac arrest remains a common problem throughout the world. This article explores several factors that aid in determining prognosis after cardiac arrest. ⋯ Intra-arrest factors look at the partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 and the presence of cardiac standstill on ultrasound. Postarrest factors include early outcome measures as well as a more comprehensive algorithmic approach to predicting neurologic outcome.
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In certain cardiac arrest situations, modifications to current cardiac resuscitation algorithms may improve patient outcome. These situations are often rare, but when they occur they house the potential for severe time and resource use, and in some cases specialized skill sets. The decision to apply these modifications to standard care for the cardiac arrest patient may be obvious in some cases or may be applied due to suspicion from the presenting medical history, history of present illness, or physical examination. However, with rare exception, general care of any cardiac arrest patient should include continuous high-quality chest compressions and appropriate airway and ventillatory management.
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In-hospital sudden cardiac arrest and resuscitation is distinct from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (OOHSCA) and warrants specific attention. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a manifestation of an underlying process rather than a disease itself. ⋯ The diagnostic and treatment algorithms of SCA remain largely the same between the inpatient and outpatient arenas. The application of complex diagnostic and therapeutic interventions is permissible, but such tools must not interrupt or delay the important basics of cardiac arrest management in the inpatient setting, including adequate chest compressions and timely defibrillation when appropriate.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2012
Editorial Historical ArticleHeart arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Introduction.