Running Head: TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST

Traumatic Cardiac Arrest: Who Are the Survivors? Students Name Institutional Affiliation

TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST Traumatic Cardiac Arrest: Who Are the Survivors? Introduction Cardiac arrest, also referred to as cardiopulmonary arrest, is a potentially fatal health

condition that impairs blood circulation when muscles of the heart fail to contract effectively. Problems in blood circulation affect delivery of oxygen to body parts, and this disrupts the normal body functioning. In the event of cardiac arrest, lack of sufficient oxygen in the brain leads to loss of consciousness and eventually into absent or abnormal breathing. Even though cardiac arrest can lead to death, decisive and immediate treatment has been identified as the best neurological recovery and the way for survival. The journal article by David Lockey, Kate Crewdson and Gareth Davies is a valuable resource in understanding the topic on cardiac arrest. The article titled Traumatic cardiac Arrest: Who are the Survivors? published in 2006, offers an in depth analysis on the case of cardiac arrest. This essay reviews this journal article, which is one of the most comprehensive and indispensable materials on study of traumatic cardiac arrest. Summary of article Based on the study by Lockey et al (2006), survival from traumatic cardiac arrest is extraordinarily poor. The article reports that survival rates, as well as characteristics of survivors, are not appealing. The study established that the survival rates are far much below those of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation. However, Lockey et al (2006) established that patients who suffer from cardiac arrest after hypoxic insults have greater chances of survival. The authors have maintained that traumatic cardiac arrest for patients with hypovolemia is mostly fatal (Lockey et al, 2006). The survival rates from traumatic cardiac arrest range from 0% to 3.7%. The study conducted by Lockey et al (2006) highlights the significance of emergency care if victims of cardiac arrest are to survive. Establishment of information about the causes and factors

TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST leading to survival of traumatic cardiac arrest is essential for providing emergency care. The study has outlined that efficient and emergence assistance to patients can help in enhancing their chances of survival. Some of the key issues and procedures to be undertaken in intervening cases of traumatic cardiac arrest include; provision of definitive airway, oxygenation, advanced cardiac life support, termination of resuscitation, formal bilateral chest decompression and intravenous access (Lockey et al, 2006).

The study, which was conducted in a period of 10 years, showed that the survival rate is below 4%. The causes of the traumatic cardiac arrest were varied and included cervical spine injuries, head injuries, traumatic asphyxia and tension pneumothorax among others (Lockey et al, 2006). In order to counter the extent of the conditions, thorough primary patient assessment should be considered, and resuscitation efforts withheld (Hopson et al, 2003). Patients should be thoroughly and rapidly assessed to identify the presence of other signs of life like spontaneous movement, papillary reflexes or even organized ECG activity. The chances of survival for the patients are dramatically increased by adopting these procedures. The study revealed that long-term survival could be increased by more than 7.5% through out-of-hospital resuscitation. The presence of rescuers and a physician is essential for improving the survival rates. From another perspective, the study revealed that the characteristics of survivors vary from one group to another. Some subgroups do well than others. The survival rate of patients whose cardiac arrest result from hypoxemia such as drowning, hanging, conflagration, electrocution and traumatic asphyxia is high (17%). It was established that patients without vital signs would not survive. Even aggressive therapies seem to have no remarkable results on patients who lack vital signs. Patients suffering from hemorrhage were found to have low tares of survival because they experience higher bleeding rates thus minimizing their chances of recuperation.

TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST Hypovolemic trauma has been categorized as the typical traumatic cardiac arrest, which

records the poorest survival rates. This inquiry confirms the outcomes of scientific studies on the topic by explaining the low survival rates of traumatic cardiac arrest. However, there is no explicit explanation of why cardiac arrest survival rates are minimal. The survivors from this condition are varied and fall under the following subgroups; penetrating chest trauma, neurological injuries, asphyxia injuries, and tension pneumothorax. The study also confirms that cardiac arrest resulting from hypovolemia is fatal (Lockey et al, 2006). Evaluation of the Article The article has comprehensively addressed the issue of cardiac arrest. By critically focusing on the study of survivors of traumatic cardiac arrest, the authors have shown their expertise in the field. The article is precise and relevant to the topic, whereby the researchers have kept their discussion and analysis relevant to the objective. The article has realized the objective of the study, which is to reveal the survival rates from traumatic cardiac arrest. The article has offered adequate information and explanation to demonstrate the survival rates from this health problem. Statistical data have been used in supporting the inferences on the poor survival rates of traumatic cardiac arrest. The inferences from the article are authentic and realistic based on the precision of researchers in addressing the topic. A 10-year retrospective database review has been administered, which has helped in identifying survival rates of patients of traumatic cardiac arrest. The study explored patients who are under out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as well as their outcomes for the conditions. The time span of ten years, as well as the sample population of 12,086 participants, is a statistically credible figure, which is capable of providing authentic results. The researchers have been able to demonstrate the variations in survival, as well as the poor survival in all forms of traumatic cardiac arrest by

TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST computing the percentages on the survival rates from the different subgroups (Lockey et al, 2006).

The article is appealing in the sense that it has addressed the topic by highlighting the different subgroups of survivors, as well as the rates of survival in each group. The article stresses the essence of the emergency care services and practices in a bid to safe the victims. The researchers have discussed the causes of the different traumas, thus offering a guideline for preventing such scenarios. The article can, however, be castigated for its shallow discussion of the causes of traumatic cardiac arrest, as well as the treatment and management approaches. The article only focuses on survival rather than providing readers with adequate knowledge on the causes, prevention, and treatment of the condition. Stiell et al (2004), in the article, Advanced cardiac life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, highlights the need for researchers to focus on all aspects of the conditions with equal magnitude in order to dispute or add to the existing scientific knowledge. Conclusion The article is worth reading and offers useful information concerning the issue of traumatic cardiac arrest. The study has apparently shown that traumatic cardiac arrest has low survival rates. Unlike patients of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the patients of traumatic cardiac arrest experience poor survival rates. It is apparent that the survival rates are not homogenous among all patients of traumatic cardiac arrest, but rather vary from one subgroup to another. There is a need for further research to identify the reasons behind the poor survival rate from traumatic cardiac arrest to offer guidelines on better care for patients.

TRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST References Hopson, L., Hirsh, E. Delgado, J., Domeier, R. M., McSwain, M. E. & Krohmer, J. (2003). Guidelines for withholding or termination of resuscitation in Pre-hospital traumatic

cardiopulmonary arrest: Joint Position Statement of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. J Am Coll Surg., l196 (1), 106-112. Retrieved from http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/15013326/2103541774/name/GUIAS%20DE%20RES UCITA%20DE%20TRAUMA.pdf Lockey, D., Crewdson, K., & Davies, G. (2006). Traumatic Cardiac Arrest: Who Are the Survivors? Annals of Emergency Medicine, 48 (3), 240-244. Retrieved from https://secure.muhealth.org/~ed/students/articles/annem_48_p0240.pdf Stiell, I. G. et al. (2004). Advanced cardiac life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. N Engl J Med, 351 (7), 647-656.