SCA News

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com was a cause for concern for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Authors Arthur Caplan, MD, and James Fitzpatrick, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, cautioned readers about buying defibrillators, suggesting the concept of public access defibrillation may be overrated. More... We beg to differ. Here is our reponse.

As Caplan and Kirkpatrick point out, strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is important. It is also reasonable to prioritize public access defibrillator sites based on the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), especially when resources are scarce. That being said, it is important for readers to understand that SCA is a public health crisis affecting 295,000 people of all ages every year in the U.S.

Join Susan Koeppen, KDKA TV anchor and sudden cardiac arrest survivor, on the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation team at the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, a 5K walk to be held on Saturday May 19 in Pittsburgh. Help raise awareness and save lives. To register, click here.

BETHESDA, MD--The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched two multi-site clinical trials to evaluate treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. One will compare continuous chest compressions (CCC) combined with pause- free rescue breathing to standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which includes a combination of chest compressions and pauses for rescue breathing. The other trial will compare treatment with the drug amiodarone, another drug called lidocaine, or neither medication (a salt-water placebo) in participants with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation, a condition in which the heart beats chaotically instead of pumping blood.

Prior research has demonstrated there is low utilization of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), particularly among women and blacks. Sana Al-Khatib, MD, of Duke University and colleagues set out to determine the degree to which the overall use of ICD therapy and disparities in use have changed. 

They studied 11,880 patients with a history of heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction of <35%, who were > 65 years old and found a significant increase in the use of ICD therapy in all sex and race groups. In addition, racial disparities were no longer present, although sex differences persisted.

More...

PITTSBURGH (KDKA-TV) — A few short months ago, the odds were heavily stacked against her survival and her chances of resuming a normal life; but as KDKA-TV News Anchor Susan Koeppen returns to work at the anchor desk for the first time since November, she’s sharing her story in the hopes that it may inspire more people to learn what to do to save a life.

After 7 years reporting for CBS News in New York, Susan came home to Pittsburgh and joined KDKA-TV last fall.

RI Hospital researchers get new look at what causes Sudden Cardiac Death

Providence, RI--One of two new studies from Rhode Island Hospital’s Cardiovascular Research Center directly links sex hormones for the first time to arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD). 

The second study identifies differential conditions and cellular mechanisms that can trigger SCD when a genetic disorder known as Long QT Syndrom (LQTS)  is a factor. Both studies use a first-ever genetic animal model the researchers developed in 2008 to further their understanding of LQTS. Their findings are published in the Journal of Physiology and the HeartRhythm Journal.

Sex hormones and Sudden Cardiac Death

SINGAPORE--About 5,000 people yesterday broke the record for the world's largest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training session, which marked the second National Life Saving Day here.

The feat came with a serious message: That learning how to use the AED may save lives. This, as about 1,400 people collapse out of hospital each year in Singapore, with only about 20 per cent receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the first few minutes.

Most of them also do not get an AED used on them in those vital first few minutes. Studies show that the use of CPR and the AED may increase survival rates of cardiac arrest patients by more than 50 per cent.

The event was organized by the Singapore Heart Foundation, the National Resuscitation Council, and partners such as the Institute of Technical Education, Nanyang Polytechnic, People's Association and Singapore Sports Council. 

SOURCE: Today Online

Rescuers performing chest compressions in a moving ambulance should sit down instead of standing, experts now advise.

A recent trial showed that paramedics can do chest compressions comparably well in both positions, but they themselves are safer when they are seated with seat belts.

Researchers had 14 emergency medical technicians and paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a manikin in a moving ambulance, 150 chest compressions in both seated and standing positions.

While seated, the average compression depth was 5cm at an average rate of 120 per minute, with 92% full chest recoil. While standing, the average compression depth was 5.5cm at a rate of 123 per minute with 82% full recoil.

Compressing is too deep when standing

EDWARDSVILLE, IL--An Alton man has filed suit against the owners of Nautilus Fitness Center in Alton, claiming the facility failed to have the proper heart resuscitation equipment on hand when the plaintiff had a sudden cardiac arrest.

Trent Rice claims the center disobeyed a state law by failing to have on hand an automated external defibrillator (AED), which is required under Illinois law. The suit filed in Madison County Circuit Court claims Rice was working out at the facility when he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest.

The suit claims Rice suffered permanent injuries to his heart and brain that could have been averted. Rice has a court-appointed guardian, Cindy Rice, who is pursuing the suit in his behalf.

The attorney for Nautilus said the facility actually did have the required equipment, but Rice fell off the back of a treadmill and landed face-down.

"He was a fairly large man," the attorney said.

Houston, TX - New advice indicates that sexual activity is safe for the majority of heart disease patients and that doctors—as well as patients and their partners—should endeavor to bring up the subject of sex in discussions [1]. The guidance comes from the first-ever American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement to address the issue, which is published online today in Circulation.