The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Abbott Releases Planned Updates for Implantable Cardiac Devices
The FDA announced a firmware update to certain Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical) implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators with radiofrequency capabilities for home monitoring. The update, which must be done in the physician's office, addresses cybersecurity and rapid battery depletion. ABBOTT… Read More
Acting on the Call
On June 6-7, 2015, at the Utstein Abbey near Stavanger, Norway, 36 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) leaders, researchers, and experts from throughout the world convened to address the challenge of how to increase community cardiac arrest survival and how to achieve implementation of best practices and worthwhile programs. The attendees called for… Read More
Drinking Up to Three Cups of Coffee Per Day May Be Safe, Protective
Caffeine consumption linked to decreased rate of atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias WASHINGTON, DC--Many clinicians advise patients with atrial or ventricular arrhythmias to avoid caffeinated beverages, but recent research has shown that coffee and tea are safe and can reduce the frequency of arrhythmias, according to a review published today in… Read More
Survivors, Family Members and Others Invited to Participate in Survey About ACCESS Study
Emory University is joining researchers at 20 other hospitals across the country to conduct a study called ACCESS. The co-principal Investigators are Demetris Yannopoulos, MD, of the University of Minnesota and Tom Auferheide, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Emory has asked the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation to share information about… Read More
Bereaved Family and Friends Contribute to Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation in Memory of Venkatesh Veeravalli
Venkatesh Veeravalli, 29, a software engineer from New Brunswick, NJ, died suddenly from cardiac arrest on February 9th, leaving behind his 25-year-old wife, his parents, and many other family members and friends. According to his family, “Venky” had fallen asleep that evening, but then awoke with breathing difficulties. First responders worked… Read More
Genetic Variant Might Be a Better Marker for Heart Disease
CINCINNATI, OH--Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine have found that a newly identified subset of a known genetic variant found primarily in individuals of South Asian descent may be a better marker for carriers of heart dysfunction in this population and that individuals with this genetic variant are more likely to… Read More
12-Year-Old Collapses at Baseball Practice, Treated with AED
GRAYSON, KY--A 12-year-old boy is being treated in a hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing during little league baseball practice. Thanks to a Kentucky law that requires automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be at sporting activities, he was able to get help much faster. Carter County EMS Director Frank Sloas says the… Read More
Idiopathic? The Importance of Comprehensive Evaluations of Survivors of Cardiac Arrest
Characteristics and clinical assessment of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest in the real-world setting: focus on idiopathic ventricular fibrillation Recent studies have shown that in more than half of apparently unexplained sudden cardiac arrests (SCA), a specific etiology can be unmasked by a careful evaluation. A new study from the Paris Sudden… Read More
Two New Studies Provide Insights on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
A study just presented at a medical conference in Europe reports that siblings of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) victims have a four-fold higher risk of SIDS. Researchers recommend that autopsies should be carried out on SIDS victims and that family members should undergo cardiology tests. More... In contrast, another study, just published… Read More