Abstract
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is not the same as heart attack or myocardial infarction. In myocardial infarction, the blood supply to the myocardium is compromized leading to ischemia. MI can also lead to cardiac arrest. In contrast, a sudden cardiac arrest happens in an apparently healthy individual, without the background of any cardiac ailments. There is sudden electrical conduction abnormality in the myocardium leading to a life threatening, usually fatal event. The SCA can happen either in a hospital setting (In Hospital Cardiac ArrestIHCA) or out of the hospital (Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest-OHCA). An OHCA is defined as cessation of cardiac mechanical activity that is confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation and that occurs outside of a hospital setting. It can occur from non-cardiac causes (i.e., trauma, drowning, overdose, asphyxia, electrocution, primary respiratory arrests, and other non-cardiac etiologies), the majority (70–85%) of such events have a cardiac cause [1,2]. The outcomes of OHCA are dismal as compared to IHCA. The majority of persons who experience an OHCA event, irrespective of etiology, do not receive bystander-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Every minute lost in initiating CPR leads to 10% decrease in survival rates of the victim. For every thirty victims of SCA provided CPR, one additional life can be saved [3,4]. CPR can be learnt by any one and every one. 70% of the respondents in the US do not know how to administer CPR or their knowledge and skills have lapsed long ago.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call