OBJECTIVE To describe the policy and practice relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation in cardiac arrest in Australian hospitals. DESIGN Cross-sectional postal survey conducted in December 2001, using a semi-structured, four-page questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS Australian hospitals with more than 10 beds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Type of defibrillator; provision of CPR/...

Background. In the region of Koroška, there are more and more public spaces equipped with automated external defibrillators which can be used by a witnessed bystander. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the skills required for using automated external defibrillators. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in two family medicine practices. We included volunteers who vis...

Different polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias may cause syncope or cardiac arrest in patients with no heart disease: (1) Catecholamine-sensitive polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) presents during childhood: the hallmark is the reproducible provocation of atrial and polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias during exercise, despite a normal QT. Beta-blockers are the treatment of choice. (2)...

BACKGROUND Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart is completely stopped and is not pumping any blood. Although most cardiac arrest cases are reported from homes or hospitals, about 20% occur in public areas. Therefore, these areas need to be investigated in terms of cardiac arrest incidence so that places of high incidence can be identified and cardiac rehabilitation defibrillators in...

OBJECTIVE To determine the outcome of out of hospital defibrillation in Scotland during the year after the introduction of automated external defibrillators in October 1988. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of ambulance service reports and hospital records. SETTING Scottish Ambulance Service and acute receiving hospitals throughout Scotland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Delay from cardiac arrest to...

BACKGROUND Although cardiac device infections (CDIs) are a devastating complication of permanent pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, the incidence of CDI in patients with bacteremia is not well defined. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of CDI among patients with permanent pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators who develop Staphylococcu...