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Biomedical subjects

Jonathan A Drezner

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan A Drezner.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Sudden cardiac arrest in intercollegiate athletes: detailed analysis and outcomes of resuscitation in nine cases.

BACKGROUND: Public access defibrillation programs have demonstrated a survival benefit in persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, little is known about the effectiveness of early defibrillation in young competitive athletes with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the details and outcomes of resuscitation in a cohort of intercollegiate athletes with SCA. METHODS: Nine cases of SCA in intercollegiate athletes occurring between 1999 and 2005 were identified through prior research and public media. A detailed questionnaire was completed by the certified athletic trainer involved in the resuscitation, and direct phone follow-up was achieved in every case. RESULTS: Nine intercollegiate athletes with SCA (4 basketball, 2 football, 2 lacrosse, and 1 swimming) had an average age of 21 years (range 18-30 years). All 9 athletes had a witnessed collapse, 7 occurred during practice, 1 during competition, and 1 during organized weight training. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated within 30 seconds after cardiac arrest in 6 cases and by 1 minute in 2 additional cases. An automated external defibrillator (AED) was provided by an athletic trainer in 5 cases and by arriving emergency medical services (EMS) in 4 cases. The initial cardiac rhythm was confirmed or suspected ventricular fibrillation in 7 athletes, pulseless idioventricular rhythm in 1 case, and unknown in 1 case. In 7 cases a shock was deployed, with an average time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation of 3.1 minutes (range 1-7.5 minutes). The average time from arrest to defibrillation decreased significantly if an AED was provided by an athletic trainer as compared with the responding EMS (1.6 vs 5.2 minutes; P = .046). Eight of the 9 athletes died. The underlying cause of sudden cardiac death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 5, commotio cordis in 2, and myocardial infarction in 1. Diagnostic studies in the survivor demonstrated no structural heart disease or precise cause of SCA. CONCLUSION: Despite witnessed collapse, immediate CPR, and prompt AED use in most cases, early defibrillation showed limited success, and survival was less than expected in this small cohort of intercollegiate athletes. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of early defibrillation and factors that affect survival in young athletes with SCA.

Adolescent↗

Practical management: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use in athletic injuries.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used in the treatment of acute athletic injuries, often for analgesic purposes as the evidence to support enhanced healing is limited. However, the current evidence on NSAID use in athletic injury is slowly growing. On the basis of animal models and limited human studies, some practical management guidelines can be drawn to assist the sports physician. Specifically, NSAIDs are not recommended in the treatment of completed fractures, stress fractures at higher risk of nonunion, or in the setting of chronic muscle injury. The only exception may be very short-term use (eg, a few days) for analgesic purposes only. Judicious use of NSAIDs may be more appropriate in the management of acute ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendinitis, and eccentric muscle injury. However, length of treatment should always be kept as short as possible, with consideration of the specific type of injury, level of dysfunction, and pain.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Use of automated external defibrillators at NCAA Division I universities.

PURPOSE: The placement of automated external defibrillators (AED) at public sporting events is a growing national trend. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, past use, and cost of implementing AED at university sporting venues. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to the head athletic trainer at all Division I NCAA universities (N = 326) and responses collected between August and November 2003. RESULTS: Completed surveys were returned by 244 institutions (75% response rate). Ninety-one percent (221/244) had AED for an average of 3.3 yr (range 1-13) with a median of four AED per institution (range 1-30). There were 35 cases of AED use for sudden cardiac arrest with 77% (27/35) occurring in older nonstudents, 14% (5/35) in intercollegiate athletes, and 3% (1/35) in a student nonintercollegiate athlete (information unavailable in two cases). The immediate resuscitation rate was 54% (19/35). A shock was delivered in 21 cases with a resuscitation rate of 71% (15/21). None of the intercollegiate athletes were successfully resuscitated. The average cost per AED was 2460 US dollars. In a 10-yr model (expected useful life of an AED), the cost per life immediately resuscitated was 52,400 US dollars, and the estimated cost per life-year gained ranged 10,500 US dollars to 22,500 US dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Most Division I universities have AED available at selected sporting venues. Although no benefit was demonstrated for intercollegiate athletes, AED were successfully used in older nonstudents with cardiac arrest with a favorable long-term cost analysis.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗