EVERY 2
MINUTES, SOMEONE IN AMERICA NEEDS A DEFIBRILLATOR
Only 5% survive
sudden cardiac arrest without one
The Food
and Drug Administration today approved the first cardiac defibrillator designed
specifically for use at home. The device, which uses a jolt of electricity to
jump-start a failing heart, could let families save the lives of loved ones who
collapse unexpectedly, officials said.
According
to the American Heart Association, 250,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest
(SCA) every year. In fact, more die from SCA than from breast cancer, prostate
cancer, AIDS, house fires, handguns and traffic accidents combined. Each year an
estimated 250,000 Americans die of cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating
without warning. Studies show that more than 70 percent of cardiac arrests occur
in the home, and many victims die while waiting for paramedics.
Still, the agency's decision is contentious. Some experts fear that at-home
defibrillators may actually cost lives, wasting precious minutes while
distraught family members try to use the defibrillator instead of calling 911
for help.
"The
overall public health impact, whether it will actually bring down the rates of
death due to sudden cardiac arrest, is unknown," said, a biomedical
engineer at the F.D.A., who supervised the review of the device. But, said, when
defibrillators are used in the first few minutes after cardiac arrest, they are
"very successful."
The
defibrillator approved last week, marketed by Philips Medical Systems of
Andover, Mass., is a simpler, easier-to-use version of those that Philips
already sells to shopping malls, office buildings and airports and other public
places.
It will
be available only with a doctor's prescription, however, and the F.D.A. is
advising anyone who has the device to receive training in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation.
"This
is not an over-the-counter device," Ms. Moynahan said. "It's a
prescription device that has a training requirement, and it's important that
consumers work out with their physicians if they should have this device in
their homes."
The
agency's decision brought praise from the American Red Cross, which has promoted
easy access to defibrillators. Scott Conner, a vice president, said the Red
Cross envisioned all Americans being within four minutes of a defibrillator.
"With
the recent F.D.A. ruling, we're one step closer to that important goal,"
Mr. Conner said.
The
defibrillator will cost $2,295, according to Deborah DiSanzo, vice president and
general manager of Philips. The company plans to begin marketing it immediately
with print and Internet advertising campaigns, she said. The company also plans
to promote the product among doctors.
Patients
who are defibrillated within five minutes of cardiac arrest have a 50 percent
chance of surviving, Ms. DiSanzo said, but for every minute that passes without
help, the chance of survival drops by as much as 10 percent.
"If
you get up to 10 minutes," she said, "your chance of surviving is less
than 1 percent," she said.
The
company intends to focus its sales effort on people 45 to 65, Ms. DiSanzo said,
particularly those who have "had some brush with heart disease" or
fear they will be victims of cardiac arrest.
When
sudden cardiac arrest strikes, the electrical system of the heart
short-circuits, causing an abnormal rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation.
Shocking the heart—known as defibrillation—is the only way to effectively
treat this abnormal heart rhythm. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can buy
time for someone in cardiac arrest, but only a defibrillator can deliver a
potentially life-saving shock.
Often
no prior symptoms
There are risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest, including age (45 and over),
smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise, among others. But the fact is that
most SCA victims have never shown any prior symptoms of heart disease. This is
true for 50% of the men, and for 63% of the women who die from sudden cardiac
arrest. In rare cases, sudden cardiac arrest can also result from accidents such
as drowning, electrocution, choking and trauma.
The
10-minute survival window
For defibrillation to be effective, the shock must be delivered within the first
few minutes of collapse. In fact, for every minute that goes by without
defibrillation, a victim’s chance of survival decreases by 7-10%. And after 10
minutes, it is unlikely that the person will survive.
That’s why over the past 20 years there has been a widespread movement to
place defibrillators in ambulances, fire and police vehicles, and public places
such as workplaces, health clubs and sports arenas. Today, every major U.S.
airline equips its planes with defibrillators.
Defibrillators
at home
More than 70% of sudden cardiac arrests occur at home. When called, Emergency
Medical Services arrive ready—with equipment and experience—to deliver a
shock with a defibrillator. But for most people in the U.S., it takes at least 6
minutes for emergency help to arrive on the scene. Add to this the time from
collapse to call, as well as any other potential delays, and it’s clear why
the next logical place for defibrillators is in the home, where they can be
quickly and easily accessed in an emergency.
Making
defibrillators easy to use
Over the years, advances in technology and design have made defibrillators easy
to operate for people like police, fire fighters and airline personnel. As
defibrillators go forward into the home, they must have the same
professional-grade, life-saving technology, in a streamlined design that’s
easy and safe to use. Household members with minimal training need to feel
confident that they can operate the defibrillator in a life-threatening,
emergency situation. Plus, home defibrillators must remain ready for long
periods of time and still perform if and when needed. Safety, ease of use and
device readiness are paramount when taking defibrillators into the home.
The
HeartStart Home Defibrillatorby Philips
Now that you know the basics of sudden cardiac arrest, the role early
defibrillation plays in its treatment, and the importance of a defibrillator for
the home, where over 70% of sudden cardiac arrests occur, it’s time to
highlight the HeartStart
Home Defibrillator.
