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Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents
Published on: July 3, 2013
Calcium and cardiac arrest
Annals of Internal Medicine
|October 1, 1986
Summary
Calcium's role in heart function is complex. Evidence does not support routine calcium use during cardiac arrest, as it may harm the heart and vascular smooth muscle.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Calcium regulates cardiac automaticity and myocardial contractility.
- Calcium increases tension in normal myocardium, leading to its investigation in resuscitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the evidence for calcium's benefit in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- To assess the potential detrimental effects of calcium administration during cardiac arrest.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on calcium's role in cardiac arrest.
- Analysis of calcium's physiological effects on myocardium and vascular smooth muscle.
Main Results:
- Evidence supporting calcium's benefit in cardiac arrest, particularly with electromechanical dissociation or asystole, is lacking.
- Cardiac arrest can disrupt myocardial calcium control, leading to overload.
- Exogenous calcium may exacerbate myocardial and vascular dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Routine calcium administration in cardiac arrest is not recommended.
- Potential for calcium overload and adverse effects on the heart and vasculature exists during cardiac arrest.
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