[Treatment of cardiac arrest in general practice. A prospective study]

Since 1978, all of the ambulance stations in South Jutland have been equipped with defibrillators, equipment for intubation, drop equipment, infusion fluids and medicaments for treatment of acute medical and surgical emergencies. In 1989, a prospective investigation was undertaken of the results of the treatment of cardiac arrest outside hospital and carried out by general practitioners in cooperation with the ambulance staff or the ambulance staff alone. The investigation revealed that four out of 11 patients with cardiac arrest survived in the group treated by doctors and ambulance staff in the pre-hospital phase while only one out of 22 patients were resuscitated by the ambulance staff alone. As assessed by the clinical investigation, none of the surviving patients had sequelae of cardiac arrest. In addition, treatment in the ambulance proved life-saving for two patients with acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary oedema who were unconscious on account of the pulmonary oedema. The investigation shows the importance of pre-hospital treatment for survival and, in sparsely populated regions far from hospitals, it is essential that this treatment is carried out by general practitioners as the time-factor is decisive for the survival of the patient.