Blisstree » Michael Jackson cardiac arrest

Bringing Patients Back to Life

Cherie Burbach — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:25:47 +0000

When Michael Jackson was taken to the UCLA Medical Center last week, he had the best chance around for being revived. The center is known for literally bringing patients that have died back to life. Apparently one doctor at the center “has pioneered a way to revive people that most doctors would have long written off, including a woman whose heart had stopped for 2 1/2 hours.”

They tested their technique on cardiac patients who, with any other hospital, would most likely die. The results were amazing, with an 80% survival rate. However, patients needed very quick treatment in order to be revived. Treatment consisted of:

Prompt CPR — rhythmic chest compressions — to maintain blood pressure until the patient gets to a hospital.
Use of a heart-lung machine to keep blood and oxygen moving through the body while doctors remedy what caused the heart to quiver or stop in the first place, such as a drug overdose or a clogged artery.
Special procedures and medicines to gradually restore blood and oxygen flow, so a sudden gush does not cause fresh damage.
This new method of revival is greatly extending the timeframe when someone thought to be dead could be brought back.

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

Bringing Patients Back to Life

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Peggy Rowland — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:37:38 +0000

If you had to choose between cardiac arrest and heart attack, you’d choose heart attack. Some people are wrongly saying Michael Jackson died of a heart attack, but that’s incorrect. Cardiac arrest and heart attack aren’t interchangeable terms.

While immediate medical attention is important for heart attacks, it’s even more critical for cardiac arrest. That’s because cardiac arrest involves the sudden loss of heart function. The heart stops beating and may have uncoordinated contractions.

According to the American Heart Association, “brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest.” That’s not a lot of time for help to arrive, assuming someone was near to dial 911. Most attempts to resuscitate a person suffering from cardiac arrest aren’t successful after as much as 10 minutes has passed.

Warning signs of cardiac arrest:

• Loss of consciousness
• Absence of pulse and blood pressure
• Failure to breathe

If you suspect someone is suffering from cardiac arrest, you should dial 911 and perform CPR until defibrillation can be administered.

(Image via flickr aussiegall)

Post from: Blisstree

What Is Cardiac Arrest?