Does age affect outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

Article Abstract:

Previous studies on the rate of survival of elderly patients who are revived by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outside of a hospital environment have been inconclusive about the benefit of such efforts. For individuals 70 or older, the rate of survival is reported as 2 percent in a rural environment and 9 percent in an urban one. A recent paper has concluded that out-of-hospital CPR of the elderly is pointless, and has led to the present investigation of the effects of age on the clinical outcome of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. All out-of-hospital resuscitations during a five-year period treated by paramedics were studied in Seattle, Washington. During this period a total of 1,405 patients were treated, and of this group, 386 (27 percent) patients aged 70 or older were revived and admitted to a hospital. Of younger patients 474 patients, or 29 percent of the group, were revived and hospitalized. Ten percent of the older group (140 patients) and 14 percent of the younger group (223 patients) were ultimately discharged from the hospital. When only patients who had gone into ventricular fibrillation (spasm of the main pumping chambers of the heart) were considered, older patients were seen to fare considerably better than younger patients. The study shows that older patients who receive rapid and efficient administration of CPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can markedly benefit, and that the intervention, particularly when the problem is ventricular fibrillation, can extend life. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Life support systems (Critical care), Life support care

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Influence of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Prior to Defibrillation in Patients With Out-of-Hospital Ventricular Fibrillation

Article Abstract:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) given before a defibrillator is used on patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest may be beneficial, especially in patients who have waited a long time for an ambulance. Most emergency physicians recommend immediate use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in these patients. Researchers evaluated the prognosis of 639 patients in cardiac arrest treated with immediate AED and 478 patients treated with CPR first. Survival rates and the number of patients with a good prognosis increased when CPR was used, but this was primarily true in patients who waited four minutes or longer to receive AED.

Care and treatment, Ventricular fibrillation, Electric countershock

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Amiodarone for resuscitation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation

Article Abstract:

The anti-arrhythmic drug amiodarone appears to be beneficial for people with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, at least in the short term. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest means the person had a cardiac arrest in their home or somewhere in their community. In a study of 258 people in cardiac arrest, paramedics who arrived on the scene gave the person intravenous amiodarone or placebo if three shocks from a defibrillator did not restore the person's heartbeat. Those who received amiodarone were more likely to survive long enough to be admitted to a hospital compared to those who received a placebo.

Drug therapy, Amiodarone

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