Cardiac Arrest

First successful treatment of pediatric cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood

Bochum's medics have succeeded in treating cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood. Following a cardiac arrest with severe brain damage, a 2.5 year old boy had been in a persistent vegetative state – with minimal chances ...

Medical research created May 23, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

ATS: Early prone positioning reduces mortality in ARDS

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Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Hospitals' cardiac arrest incidence and survival rates go hand in hand

Hospitals with the highest rates of cardiac arrests tend to have the poorest survival rates for those cases, new University of Michigan Health System research shows.

Cardiology created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Delayed transfer to the ICU increases risk of death in hospital patients

Delayed transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) in hospitalized patients significantly increases the risk of dying in the hospital, according to a new study from researchers in Chicago.

Other created May 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study finds improved CPR quality saves lives

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Cardiology created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Research identifies infection and sepsis-related mortality hotspots across the US

In the past, researchers have sought to determine the geographic distribution of many life-threatening conditions, including stroke and cardiac arrest. Now, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

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Genetics created May 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Medical myth: Flatlining patients can be shocked back to life

Beep….beep……….beep……….beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. "We're losing him. Out of my way, nurse!" The quick-thinking young doctor charges the defibrillator paddles and places them on the chest of ...

Cardiology created May 14, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Study suggests new role for ECMO in treating patients with cardiac arrest and profound shock

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a procedure traditionally used during cardiac surgeries and in the ICU that functions as an artificial replacement for a patient's heart and lungs, has also been used to resuscitate ...

Cardiology created May 17, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Estrogen levels tied to risk for sudden cardiac death in study

(HealthDay)—Higher levels of the hormone estrogen are associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death in men and women, a new study suggests.

Cardiology created May 11, 2013 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Less than half of deaths after angioplasty result of procedure, study shows

Only 42 percent of the deaths occurring within 30 days of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were attributable to complications from the procedure, according to a Cleveland Clinic study published online in the Journal of ...

Cardiology created May 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers determine where best to place defibrillators

TORONTO: Prompt use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, can greatly increase the survival rates of people who suffer a cardiac arrest. And MIE Professor Tim Chan, working with Dr. Laurie Morrison at St. Michael's ...

Cardiology created May 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study finds survival from cardiac arrest highest in the operating room or post-anesthesia care unit

A University of Michigan study from the "Online First" edition of Anesthesiology found cardiac arrest was associated with improved survival when it occurred in the operating room (O.R.) or post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) ...

Cardiology created May 01, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Scripts help novice instructors teach pediatric CPR

New, low-tech teaching techniques used by novice instructors may improve training for healthcare providers in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on children who suffer cardiac arrest. Researchers ...

Pediatrics created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Cardiac arrest, (also known as cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest) is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively. Medical personnel can refer to an unexpected cardiac arrest as a sudden cardiac arrest or SCA.

A cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack, where blood flow to the muscle of the heart is impaired.

Arrested blood circulation prevents delivery of oxygen to the body. Lack of oxygen to the brain causes loss of consciousness, which then results in abnormal or absent breathing. Brain injury is likely if cardiac arrest goes untreated for more than five minutes. For the best chance of survival and neurological recovery, immediate and decisive treatment is imperative.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, in certain situations, is potentially reversible if treated early. When unexpected cardiac arrest leads to death this is called sudden cardiac death (SCD). The treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to provide circulatory support, followed by defibrillation if a shockable rhythm is present. If a shockable rhythm is not present after CPR and other interventions, clinical death is inevitable.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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