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Study: Hospitals Too Slow to Shock Hearts

30% of cardiac arrests receiving care too late

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2008 7:42 PM CST

(Newser) – American hospitals are taking too long to revive the hearts of patients who suffer cardiac arrest, a study finds. Electric shock from a defibrillator can restart a stopped heart, but only if it is done quickly. The American Heart Association recommends that patients in cardiac arrest receive treatment within two minutes, but 30% wait longer, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Survival rates for patients in cardiac arrest dwindle with time—39% of those receiving a shock within the recommended two minutes lived; by five minutes, survival rates dipped to 15%. The study's lead researcher said he hopes the findings will spark discussion on how hospitals can speed their response, be it by training nurses on manual defibrillators or installing automated versions.

Doctors and nurses stand beside obesity patient Carlos Marroquin during a gastric bypass surgery in Guatemala City, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007. Marroquin died hours after the surgery of a heart attack. (AP... (Associated Press)

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Study: Hospitals Too Slow to Shock Hearts

30% of cardiac arrests receiving care too late

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Study: Hospitals Too Slow to Shock Hearts

30% of cardiac arrests receiving care too late

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

health • hospitals • heart • heart attack • defibrillator • cardiac arrest

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Study: Rage Can Be Fatal

Anger shown to cause irregular heartbeats with the potential for cardiac arrest

Skip Liplock, 'Go for the Heart' to Save a Life

Chest compressions key in heart attack CPR, says health group

Heart Assn. Wants You to Learn CPR

Just 15-30% of cardiac arrest victims get lifesaving treatment

Simple Technique Could Bypass Cardiac Arrest

Restricting arm blood circulation helps heart in surgery—and attacks, docs hope

Docs Replace Cheney's Heart Implant

Veep gets go-ahead to return to work after defibrillator gets new battery

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?