The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Siblings of SIDs Victims Have Four-Fold Risk of SIDS
Researchers say steps to avoid sibling deaths could be identified through autopsies and family screening BARCELONA, SPAIN--Siblings of cot death victims have a four-fold higher risk of cot death, according to research presented today at EHRA 2018, a European Society of Cardiology congress. The 38-year study in nearly 2.5 million infants… Read More
European Network Explores Gender-Based Prevention and Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
BARCELONA, SPAIN--Researchers will use a European network of 90,000 patients to explore different approaches to prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest for men and women, they announced today during a workshop on sex and gender differences at EHRA 2018. The European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network (ESCAPE-NET) is backed by the… Read More
Genetic Heart Diseases Rarely Cause SIDS
Findings may help prevent unnecessary genetic testing of surviving family members Genetic heart diseases (GHDs) cause fewer cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than previously thought, according to a study published in the March 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. David J. Tester, from the Mayo Clinic in… Read More
A Tale of Two Airlines
A Loss on WestJet Flight crew took 10 minutes to find AED after elderly man initially found in medical distress Questions are being raised about how prepared flight crews are to deal with medical emergencies after an elderly man died on a WestJet flight from Hawaii to Calgary last week. The flight left Honolulu late at night on March 7 and was… Read More
Wearable Defibrillator Reduces All Cause Mortality by a Third
Mortality benefit goes beyond that achieved with standard medical therapy alone, could help bridge patients to evaluation for ICD placement ORLANDO, FL--Wearing a lightweight vest equipped with a cardioverter defibrillator that detects abnormal heart rhythms in addition to taking recommended medications is associated with a reduction in the… Read More
Italian Law Must Change to Improve Survival from Cardiac Arrest
Law requiring certificate to use a defibrillator reduces response time MILAN, ITALY--An Italian law requiring citizens to hold a certificate to use a defibrillator must change to improve survival from cardiac arrest, researchers argued today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2018, a European Society of Cardiology congress. “Automated external… Read More
Cardiac Arrest Survival Greatly Increases When Bystanders Use an Automated External Defibrillator
Study Highlights: Survival from cardiac arrest doubled when bystanders stepped in to use a publicly-available automated external defibrillator rather than wait until emergency responders arrived. The study showed that the longer it takes emergency personnel to arrive, the greater the benefit of a bystander using an AED to shock the victim.… Read More
Medtronic Recalls Certain CRT-Ds and ICDs Due to Manufacturing Error That Can Prevent Electrical Shock Delivery
The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillators (CRT-Ds) are devices that provide pacing for slow heart rhythms, and electrical shock or pacing to stop… Read More
CPR Survival Rates Are Lower Than Most People Think
The majority of people believe cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is successful more often than it tends to be in reality, according to a small U.S. study. This overly optimistic view, which may partly stem from seeing happy outcomes in television medical dramas, can get in the way of decision-making and frank conversations about end of life… Read More