National Study Reviews Drug Administration during CPR

SEATTLE (KING 5) - In addition to CPR, paramedics routinely administer drugs to get the patient stabilized before reaching the hospital.  But do those drugs really improve the chances of survival? That was unknown until now. A national study led by UW finally has an answer—which is—it depends. When a King County Medic One team arrives at the scene of a cardiac arrest. CPR is standard. So is lidocaine to stabilize heart rhythm. “These drugs have been around-- lidocaine for probably 50 years, amiodarone for more than ten years-- and we used them with the best intention of wanting to save lives. The reality is we never knew," said Medic One Medical Director Dr. Peter Kudenchuk. Read More
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: General News Cardiac & Resuscitation Source Type: news