Abstract | INTRODUCTION: MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between January 2003 and December 2004 and who received early defibrillation for ventricular fibrillation were included. We conducted a 24 months retrospective population-based analysis of the outcome in our population. RESULTS: Over a 24 month period, 446 people had non-traumatic cardiac arrest, and in all of them it was observed to be ventricular fibrillation. In a very few cases, the defibrillator operators were good Samaritans, acting voluntarily. Eighty-nine patients (about 19%) with ventricular fibrillation were successfully resuscitated, including eighteen who regained consciousness before hospital admission. CONCLUSION:
Automated external defibrillators deployed in readily accessible, well-marked areas, are really very effective in assisting patients with cardiac arrest. However, it's quite true that, in the cases of survivors, most of our users had good prior training in the use of these devices.
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Authors | Paolo Terranova, Paolo Valli, Barbara Severgnini, Simonetta Dell'Orto, Greco Enrico Maria |
Journal | Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal
(Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J)
Vol. 6
Issue 4
Pg. 194-201
(Oct 01 2006)
ISSN: 0972-6292 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 17031415
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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