Cardiac Arrest

Abstract
Seventy cases of cardiac arrest treated by cardiac massage were recorded at the Philadelphia General Hospital over a six-year period. Forty-five patients were seen in the operating room; 27 were resuscitated and 11 recovered (24.5%). Twenty-five patients suffered cardiac arrest outside the operating room: seven were resuscitated but only one patient recovered. Cardiac massage, better termed cardiac pumping, can be performed both inside and outside of the operating room. Time does not permit moving the patient, if the patient is to be revived. A delay of four minutes after the last heart beat, recognized by the stopping of the carotid arterial pulsation, will result in severe damage to both the brain and viscera. Two important criteria are described which should be considered before cardiac massage is performed outside the operating room: the interval between arrest and institution of massage should be less than four minutes; the patient's primary disease should be reversible. Four cases of patients with cardiac arrest which occurred outside the operating room are illustrated.

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