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| Heart attack method 'saves lives' | Heart attack method 'saves lives' |
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| Paramedics should give heart attack patients uninterrupted chest compressions to improve their chances of survival, a US study has suggested. | Paramedics should give heart attack patients uninterrupted chest compressions to improve their chances of survival, a US study has suggested. |
| Researchers in Arizona found survival rates trebled when a technique which emphasises the importance of non-stop compressions was introduced. | Researchers in Arizona found survival rates trebled when a technique which emphasises the importance of non-stop compressions was introduced. |
| Very few people who suffer a cardiac arrest reach hospital alive. | Very few people who suffer a cardiac arrest reach hospital alive. |
| But in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers insisted these rates could be improved. | But in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers insisted these rates could be improved. |
| Minimally interrupted cardiac resuscitation (MICR) involves providing 200 uninterrupted compressions, administering adrenaline early and waiting a little longer to insert a tube into the trachea to ventilate the lungs. | |
| The practice was taught to paramedics in two metropolitan cities. | The practice was taught to paramedics in two metropolitan cities. |
| Excessive interruptions of chest compressions by pre-hospital personnel are extremely common Dr Bentley BorrowMayo Clinic | Excessive interruptions of chest compressions by pre-hospital personnel are extremely common Dr Bentley BorrowMayo Clinic |
| In the period examined prior to instruction, some 218 patients were attended after heart attack, of whom four - or 1.8% - survived long enough to reach a hospital. | In the period examined prior to instruction, some 218 patients were attended after heart attack, of whom four - or 1.8% - survived long enough to reach a hospital. |
| After paramedics had been taught the technique, that figure increased to 5.4%. Thirty-six of 668 patients reached hospital. | After paramedics had been taught the technique, that figure increased to 5.4%. Thirty-six of 668 patients reached hospital. |
| "During resuscitation efforts, the forward blood flow produced by chest compressions is so marginal that any interruption of chest compressions extremely harmful," Dr Bentley Borrow from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona wrote. | |
| "Excessive interruptions of chest compressions by pre-hospital personnel are extremely common. Therefore, MICR emphasizes uninterrupted chest compressions." | "Excessive interruptions of chest compressions by pre-hospital personnel are extremely common. Therefore, MICR emphasizes uninterrupted chest compressions." |
| The UK's Resuscitation Council said guidelines had moved in this direction, but that this model placed even more emphasis on chest compressions from the outset. | The UK's Resuscitation Council said guidelines had moved in this direction, but that this model placed even more emphasis on chest compressions from the outset. |
| "It is a significant study, but has to be interpreted very cautiously. It is not strong enough for us immediately to change what we are doing," said Jerry Nolan, the body's chairman, arguing that a more tightly controlled study was needed. | "It is a significant study, but has to be interpreted very cautiously. It is not strong enough for us immediately to change what we are doing," said Jerry Nolan, the body's chairman, arguing that a more tightly controlled study was needed. |
| Judy O'Sullivan, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said the study was "interesting" but also stressed the need for more investigation. | Judy O'Sullivan, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said the study was "interesting" but also stressed the need for more investigation. |
| "It doesn't give us enough evidence to change current practice in the UK." | "It doesn't give us enough evidence to change current practice in the UK." |