A proportion of patients are unsuitable for defibrillation because their initial arrhythmia is asystole or pulseless electrical activity. |
Traditionally, emergency medical personnel were the only ones who could administer defibrillation. |
The group trained in CPR and defibrillation administered emergency treatment on 128 heart attack victims, and there were 30 survivors. |
Twenty per cent of the study group included consultants, who rarely carry out defibrillation. |
That will keep the body receptive to defibrillation when the emergency service arrives. |
Some patients have asystole from the onset of arrest and are unsuitable for defibrillation by the ambulance crew or bystanders. |