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CARDIAC ARREST ON THE PITCH
There have recently been several high profile athletes who have suffered sudden cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation on the sports field. The world's attention has since been captured and sporting authorities have clambered to increase their medical preparedness. Sudden cardiac arrest remains the leading cause of death in athletes during exercise and sport. A review, together with simple guidelines focussing on getting the best outcome, is presented in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2012;46:1094–6).
UNUSUAL HYPOTHERMIC RESUSCITATION
An interesting case report in the Annals of Emergency Medicine (2012;60:786–9) describes the successful use of hypothermic resuscitation for cardiac arrest in pregnancy. A 33-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department after suffering an out of hospital cardiac arrest whilst in her 20th week of pregnancy. Initial resuscitation using standard advanced life support techniques were successful, following which the unconscious mother (and fetus) were treated with therapeutic hypothermia. A healthy baby was delivered 19 weeks later. Both the mother and the child's cardiac and neurological function are normal and the child has attained normal developmental milestones. …