Thanks to the automated external defibrillator, victims of cardiac arrest are more likely to survive without neurological sequelae.
The deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has saved lives in gyms and amateur clubs, reports an Italian study presented at the congress of the French Society of Cardiology in Barcelona.
“Sudden death from cardiac arrest is a major cause of death in Europe,” said Dr Diego Penela, cardiologist at Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital (Italy). It affects more than 300,000 people each year. Their chances of survival are dwindling every minute if no defibrillation is performed. “
This heart attack usually occurs after an intense workout which may have strained the heart. In particular, it has been established that athletes are 3 times more likely to die from sudden death than the general population. This risk can be divided by 4 if the people present during the incident have access to an AED.
Less neurological sequelae
Italian researchers evaluated the impact of these devices capable of triggering an electric shock in a heart attack victim in 252 sports facilities in the Piacenza region. More than 80% of them have installed an AED during the 18 years of work.
A total of 26 episodes of sudden cardiac arrest occurred, including 15 in centers equipped with a defibrillator. A chance for amateur athletes since the time between the attack and the first electric shock went from 7.3 minutes to 3.3 minutes.
Of the 15 victims in the equipped centers, 14 survived and presented no neurological sequelae. In contrast, in the other clubs, only one of the 11 victims survived without brain damage.
Multiply the installations
The researchers also calculated that the installation of 19 devices was necessary to save a person and prevent him from suffering from neurological damage. Also, it is important to increase the equipment.
In France, the deployment of AEDs in public places started in 2007. Since then, between 120,000 and 150,000 devices have been installed in the region. An insufficient number, according to the deputies, who voted in 2016 for the obligation to install AEDs in all places open to the public. The implementing decree defining the places concerned has not yet been published.
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