How Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Treated?

Emergency Treatment 

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) requires immediate treatment with a defibrillator. This device sends an electric shock to the heart. The electric shock may  restore a normal rhythm to a heart that's stopped beating.

To work well, defibrillation must be done within minutes of SCA.  With every minute that passes,  the chances of surviving SCA drop rapidly.

Police, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders usually are trained and equipped to use a defibrillator. Call 9–1–1 right away if someone has signs or symptoms of SCA.  The sooner help is called,  the sooner potentially lifesaving treatment can be done.

Automated External Defibrillators 

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are special  defibrillators that untrained bystanders can use. These devices  are becoming more available in public places like airports, office buildings, and shopping centers.

AEDs are programmed to give an electric  shock if they detect  a dangerous arrhythmia,  such as ventricular fibrillation. This prevents giving a shock to someone who may have fainted but isn't having SCA. 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be given to a person having SCA until defibrillation can be done.

People  who are at risk for  SCA may want to consider having an AED at home. Currently, one AED, the Phillips HeartStart Home Defibrillator,  is sold over-the-counter for home use. 

A 2008 study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institutes of Health found that AEDs in the home are safe and effective. However, the benefits of home-use AEDs are still debated. 

Some people feel that placing these devices in homes will save many lives, because many SCAs occur at home. 

Others note that no evidence supports the idea that home-use AEDs save more lives. These people fear that people who have AEDs in their homes will delay calling for help during an emergency. They’re also concerned that people who have home-use AEDs will not properly maintain the devices or forget where they are. 

When considering a home-use AED, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you decide whether having an AED in your home will benefit you. 

Treatment in a Hospital 

If you survive SCA, you  usually will be  admitted to a hospital for observation and treatment. In the hospital, your medical team will closely watch your heart. They  may give you medicines  to try to reduce the chance of another SCA. 

While in  the hospital, your medical team will try to find out what caused your  SCA. If you're diagnosed with  coronary artery disease, you  may have  angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting. These procedures help  restore blood flow through narrowed or  blocked coronary arteries.

Often, people who have SCA get  a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This small device is  surgically placed under the skin in your chest or abdomen.  An ICD uses electric pulses  or shocks to help control  dangerous arrhythmias. (For more information, see "How Can Death Due  to Sudden Cardiac Arrest Be Prevented?")