For hospital patients, defibrillation delays mean lowe...(a Heart Institute. Dr. Chan was previou...),Health

The study used a larger, more statistically significant registry of nearly 7,000 patients and focused exclusively on appropriate patients with ventricular arrhythmia. We found that delayed defibrillation was common, and that rapid defibrillation was associated with sizable survival gains in these high-risk patients, said Dr. Chan. However, the real work has yet to be done in this field. We now have to develop systems of care within the hospital to improve defibrillation times nationally.

These findings represent a real opportunity to improve patient care, said Dr. Nallamothu. We need to understand how delayed defibrillation, which was more common after-hours and in unmonitored settings, relates to the immediate availability of medical personnel or equipment, as well as potential delays in recognition of ventricular arrhythmia.

'/>"/>