Cardiac Arrest

UT Southwestern’s expert cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons work to save the lives of people who experience cardiac arrest. We also excel at identifying and treating cardiac arrest’s underlying causes in those who survive this life-threatening heart emergency. 

Expert Care for a Life-Threatening Emergency

Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Cardiac arrest – also called sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – is caused by an interruption of the electrical signals that control the heart’s ability to pump blood. When the heart stops, the lack of blood flow can cause sudden cardiac death (SCD) or brain damage within four to six minutes.

Although cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack – in which blood flow to part of the heart is blocked – a heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest.

UT Southwestern’s skilled heart doctors use a variety of advanced tools and techniques to save the lives of people who experience cardiac arrest and make it to the hospital – and to diagnose and treat the underlying causes in people who survive.

UT Southwestern is also home to a dedicated Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Cardiac rehabilitation is a critical component of recovery and can prevent future heart disease.

Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest often occurs without warning, causing people to suddenly:

• Collapse
• Lose consciousness
• Stop breathing
• Have no pulse

Prior to collapsing, some people might experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
  
• Fainting
  
• Dizziness
  
• Chest pain
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Weakness
  
• Heart palpitations
  

If you or someone with you experiences these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Diagnosis of Cardiac Arrest

People who survive cardiac arrest might undergo tests to determine its underlying cause. Common diagnostic tests include:

• Blood tests
• Cardiovascular imaging, such as echocardiography or chest X-ray
• Electrocardiography (echo or cardiac ultrasound)

Treatment for Cardiac Arrest

First-response treatment for cardiac arrest includes:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Defibrillation

Once the patient reaches a hospital, the heart team might use these techniques to treat cardiac arrest:

• Angioplasty
• Anti-arrhythmic medications
• Heart surgery, such as a coronary artery bypass graft (bypass surgery)
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

Support Services

UT Southwestern’s cardiac rehabilitation specialists will create a customized plan that makes nutrition, exercise, and nicotine cessation programs an integral part of a patient’s daily routine after cardiac arrest.

Clinical Trials

As one of the nation’s top academic medical centers, UT Southwestern offers a number of clinical trials aimed at improving the outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Clinical trials often give patients access to leading-edge treatments that are not yet widely available. Eligible patients who choose to participate in one of UT Southwestern’s clinical trials might receive treatments years before they are available to the public.