Revista española de cardiología (English ed.)
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Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed) · Apr 2013
Low clinical penetrance in causal mutation carriers for cardiac channelopathies.
Cardiac channelopathies are genetic alterations that can cause sudden death. Long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome are 2 such conditions. Both are diagnosed according to previously published criteria. Our objective was to determine the sensitivity of these criteria in a consecutive series of patients carrying the mutations that cause them. ⋯ Current diagnostic criteria for long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome had low sensitivity in our sample of genetic carriers. Genetic tests supported by pharmacological tests can increase diagnostic sensitivity, especially in asymptomatic relatives.
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Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed) · Apr 2013
Factors associated with mortality in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests attended in basic life support units in the Basque Country (Spain).
To describe the epidemiological characteristics of cardiac arrests attended in basic life support units in the Basque Country (Spain) and look for factors associated with failure of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ⋯ Cardiac arrest survival was low. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the arrival of the ambulance was rare. A shockable rhythm, age younger than 65 years, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts, and a location away from home were associated with longer survival. It is necessary to develop strategies designed to reduce ambulance response time and educate the public in basic resuscitation.