Dtsch Arztebl Int
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Resuscitation by laypersons is important in bridging the time between the occurrence of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and the arrival of emergency rescue service personnel. Depending on the reason for the cardiac arrest, however, the effectiveness of chest compressions is uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of lay resuscitation on survival following OHCA of different causes. ⋯ Resuscitation by laypersons is associated with an improved result regarding the endpoint 30 days' survival/discharged alive in cases of OHCA caused by cardiac events and intoxication. These two groups account for 81% of the resuscitation patients in the study. Because there was also a tendency towards higher survival rates following OHCA of other causes (except hypoxia), laypersons should continue to be encouraged to attempt resuscitation in all cases of OHCA, whatever the cause.
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New gene therapy approaches have emerged as promising treatment options for rare congenital disorders and certain tumor entities for which previously only procedures of limited curative potential had been available, if at all. ⋯ The first gene treatments have now been approved and bring hope of long-term therapeutic benefit after a single administration. The numbers of patients who come into question for specific therapies are often low, so that many different aspects- generation of evidence on efficacy and safety, determining indications, performance of the treatment, pricing-bring new challenges.