CPR and defibrillation are better than adrenaline in cardiac arrest. ALEEM.M.A. BMJ 2018;362:k3145

BMJ

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Adrenaline after cardiac arrest doubles risk of serious brain damage, finds trial

BMJ 2018; 362 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k3145 (Published 19 July 2018)

Cite this as: BMJ 2018;362:k3145

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CPR and defibrillation are better than adrenaline in cardiac arrest

Adrenaline may be tried by doctors in an attempt to treat patients with cardiac arrest. It can increase blood flow to the heart and increase the chance of restoring a heartbeat. But it also reduces blood flow in very small blood vessels in the brain which may result in brain damage . So it can lead to vegetative state in patients who recover from cardiac arrest.

So for cardiac arrest CPR and defibrillation are 10 to 20 times more effective than adrenaline.

Competing interests: No competing interests

20 July 2018

M.A. Aleem

Emeritus Professor*.Neurologist **.

The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University*. ABC Hospital**.

Chennai 600032* Trichy 620018**. Tamilnadu India

@drmaaleem