Emergency care.
Prehospital ventricular fibrillation can be treated successfully by rescue (paramedic) personnel. By retrospective history, one-half of prehospital sudden death victims experienced no prior warning and collapsed either instantaneously or within one minute of symptoms. The follow-up course was analyzed. Of 301 such subjects, 199 were defibrillated successfully, but only 101 survived long enough to be hospitalized, and only 42 were discharged alive. Predictors for successful outcome were initially rapid post-defibrillation heart rates and atrial fibrillation or sinus tachycardia rhythms. In the hospitalized group, 57% suffered repeat ventricular fibrillation and/or ventricular tachycardia usually during the first 24 hours. Among those discharged from the hospital, mean survival was 13 months with 28% dying suddenly regardless of presence of antiarrhythmic therapy. Intensive antiarrhythmic therapy and monitoring of this survivor population seems indicated.
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005431:Florida; D006339:Heart Rate; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D011379:Prognosis; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000078329:Workforce