Early Heart Attack Care ( Sudden Death)

Cardiac Arrest ( Sudden Death)

What iscardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of cardiac function in a person who may or may not have a prior cardiac disease. The heart stops beating properly. The heart pumping function is “arrested,” or stopped. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. Hence results in cardiac arrest

Diagnosis of cardiac arrest:

Collapse suddenly and loose consciousness.
Are not breathing or their breathing is ineffective or they gasping for air.
Do not respond to shouting or shaking
Do not have a pulse

Cause of ardiac arrest:

Mailnly it is arrythmia, (which is abnormal heart rhythm) like, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, which is the immediate cause of cardiac arrest. This can be due to variety of reasons like: coronary heart disease, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, electrolyte imbalance etc. But about half of cardiac arrest occur to people who did not know, they had a heart problem.

Cardiac Causes

Coronary Artery Diseases

Coronary artery abnormalities:

Anomalous coronary artery anatomy.
Acute lesions (platelet aggregation, plaque fissuring, acute thombosis).
Chronic atherosclerosis.
Coronary artery spasm.

Myocardial Infarction:

Acute
Healed

Myocardial Hypertrophy

Secondary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Obstructive
Nonobstructive

Valvular Heart Disease

Infiltrative and Inflammatory disorders

Infiltrative diseases
Noninfectious inflammatory diseases
Myocarditis

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Electrophysiologic Abnormalities

Inherited Disorders

Early repolarization syndrome
Brugada syndrome
Short QT syndrome
Long QT syndrome
Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Heart Failure

Ejection fraction less than 35%

Congenital disease

Tetralogy of Fallot

Respiratory Causes

Airway obstruction:
Bronchospasm due to ( pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, and pneumonia)
Severe asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Pulmonary embolism
Respiratory muscle weakness: due to spinal cord injury.

Traumatic Causes

DEATH:

In Cardiac arrest, death can result quickly if proper steps to reverse the condition not taken immediately, within few minutes. This is “CPR” i.e. cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The main feature is chest compression with proper depth and speed, plus a defibrillator shock to the heart, which will restore the lost rhythm.

CPR:

Chest Compression: Interlock fingers of your two hands, one on top of another. Put the heal of the hand on the centre of the central chest bone (sternum) Keep your elbows straight and start compressing on the bone about 2 inches deep and keeping the steady pace, 30 times per minute. This will help propel the stagnant blood in heart chambers to move out and reach the vital organs like brain.

Defibrillator:

A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric shock to the heart to try to restore its normal rhythm. It is available in hospital emergency units and other departments as well.

For out of hospital cardiac arrest a device called automated external defibrillator(AED) is used. It is a portable device, which can be accessed easily, if you know the location of its placement near you.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs):

AEDs are a type of portable defibrillator installed in places where are public gatherings expected, like restaurants, parks, cinemas, shopping malls, mosques, schools etc. etc.AEDs offer a way for bystander to provide treatment until first responders arrive.

When a person is identified as having a cardiac arrest, bystander can call emergency Medical Services, and provide CPR, and use an AED. Continue chest compression and shock every 2 minute till the EMS arrive.

Signs mark locations of AED in public places.

Know where to find AEDs: Many public places has AEDs. Keep yourself aware about the availability and location of AED.
Learn how to use an AED: Training to use AED is very helpful. Find out CPR course near you and learn to use AED..