What's the treatment for sudden cardiac death?
When sudden cardiac death occurs, the first priority is to establish the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. The next priority is to restore normal rhythm to the heart. Forcing air into the mouth will get oxygen into the lungs. Compressing the chest simulates a pumping heart and will get some blood flow to the lungs, brain, and coronary arteries. This method is called cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When trained help arrives, they will attempt to establish a normal heart beat by using a device called a defibrillator. If sudden cardiac death occurs outside the hospital setting, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) must begin within four to six minutes and advanced life support measures must begin within eight minutes, to avoid brain death. CPR requires no special medical skills and training is available for the ordinary person nationwide.
The American Heart Association promotes using the four steps, called "the chain of survival."
1. Early Access to Care. Quick contact with emergency care is essential. If someone experiences SCD, call 911 (in most communities) or your local emergency number immediately.
2. Early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). If performed properly, CPR can help save a life, as the procedure keeps blood and oxygen circulating through the body until emergency medical help arrives.
3. Early Defibrillation. In most adults, sudden cardiac death is related to ventricular fibrillation. Quick defibrillation (delivery of an electrical shock) is necessary to return the heart rhythm to a normal heartbeat. The shorter the time until defibrillation, the greater the chance the person will survive. Emergency squads use portable defibrillators and frequently there are public access defibrillators (AEDs) in public locations that are intended to be available for use by citizens who observed the cardiac arrest. (see below for more information).
4. Early Advanced Care. After successful defibrillation, most patients require hospital care to treat and prevent future events.
These 4 steps can increase survival as high as 90 percent if initiated within the first minutes after SCD. Survival decreases by about 10 percent each minute longer. Those who survive have a good long-term outlook. |
