Hospital practice (1995)
-
Hospital practice (1995) · Nov 2010
Historical ArticleHistory and current trends in sudden cardiac arrest and resuscitation in adults.
Cardiac arrest occurs when organized cardiac contractility ceases and circulation stops. During cardiac arrest, electrical activity may be abnormal or absent, and the rhythm documented can be ventricular fibrillation, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity, or asystole. It has been estimated that 300 000 sudden cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States, with 75% (225,000) occurring out-of-hospital and 25% (75,000) occurring in-hospital. ⋯ If return of spontaneous circulation occurs during this phase, significant injury to diverse organs may have occurred, producing a critical illness known as post-cardiac arrest syndrome. The post-cardiac arrest syndrome has been recognized as a unique entity requiring unique therapies for successful management. Recent advances in cardiac arrest care include cardiocerebral resuscitation and the use of therapeutic hypothermia to treat comatose survivors of cardiac arrest.
-
Hospital practice (1995) · Nov 2010
Improving patient outcomes from acute cardiovascular events through regionalized systems of care.
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), cardiac arrest, and ischemic stroke are a diverse group of cardiovascular illnesses linked by the necessity for timely intervention in order to maximize patient outcomes. Despite the known efficacies of therapies, such as emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), rapid administration of tissue plasminogen activator, and induction of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest, translating these discoveries into standard practice nationwide has proven difficult to achieve. Significant regional variations in practice are commonplace, and facilities with higher patient volumes of STEMI, cardiac arrest, and ischemic stroke consistently have better outcomes compared with lower-volume facilities. ⋯ Regionalized referral systems, such as designated PCI centers and designated stroke centers, are in existence, but have largely been reactive and local, and no mechanism is in place to ensure equitable distribution of such facilities across all geographic regions. As scientific advances in the treatment of these conditions continue to evolve, so too must the system of care that provides these therapies. Evidence suggests that regionalized systems of care for acute cardiovascular events may increase compliance with existing life-saving guidelines and improve patient outcomes.