The Brighton resuscitation ambulances: review of 40 consecutive survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
In three years 40 patients were resuscitated by ambulancemen after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and survived to be discharged. Twenty-six of these had had circulatory arrest before an ambulance arrived and a further three had developed ventricular fibrillation before they were moved. Thirty-two patients were alive at the time of review six months to three and a half years later. Resuscitation by ambulancemen can be effective for patients with unheralded sudden cardiac arrest as well as for patients with recent myocardial infarction. Survivors of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation may have a favourable long-term prognosis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004739:England; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation