Analysis of the 2018 American Heart Association Focused Update on Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs During and Immediately After Cardiac Arrest

THE BURDEN OF cardiac arrest out of hospital is substantial, with an estimated 424,000 cardiac arrests occurring each year in the United States and 275,000 in Europe.1,2 As few as 1 in 12 victims of cardiac arrest out of hospital survive to return home.3,4 Cardiac arrest secondary to a ventricular fibrillation (VF)/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) commonly employs the use of antiarrhythmic medications and interventions such as electrical defibrillation and chest compressions. If these medications have any effect on overall outcomes, neurological sequela in recovered victims, or discharge time, is still very nebulous.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Expert Review Source Type: research