NEW DELHI: The death of veteran actor Nana Patekar at 75 has put the spotlight on sudden cardiac arrest, a medical emergency in which the heart abruptly stops pumping blood effectively and requires immediate resuscitation.According to details shared about his final hours, Patekar reportedly felt unwell in the early hours and was later found sweating and losing consciousness at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him with CPR for around 45 minutes to an hour but could not save him, said Dr Shekhar Salkar.Dr Ambuj Roy, Professor of Cardiology at AIIMS Delhi, said cardiac arrest can ultimately be the final common pathway of several serious medical emergencies. “If somebody is feeling unwell, particularly at night, you should immediately call for help and take the person to a hospital,” he said.Once cardiac arrest occurs, the priority is immediate CPR and defibrillation. “Once cardiac arrest occurs, CPR should be started immediately, within two minutes of the onset of cardiac arrest, and a defibrillator used as soon as possible,” he said.The urgency of starting CPR quickly is underscored by its steep impact on survival. Dr Rakesh Garg, professor at AIIMS and an expert involved in developing Indian CPR guidelines, said the chances of survival can decrease by 7% to 10% with every minute without intervention.“If possible, a layperson should start CPR as soon as possible,” Garg said. Chest compressions act as a manual pump, helping circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs until professional medical help arrives. The circulation generated by CPR is not the same as that produced by a normally functioning heart, but it can help keep vital organs supplied with blood while emergency treatment is arranged.For a sudden collapse in an adult, a bystander can start hands-only CPR with chest compressions rather than wait for formal training or mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing, provided the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.Garg said prolonged interruption of blood flow can deprive the brain of oxygen and cause brain injury. Medical intervention after eight to 10 minutes without effective resuscitation may be too late, he said, adding that brain injury can occur within 10 to 15 minutes.
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He urged families to learn basic CPR so they can begin chest compressions while waiting for an ambulance or medical team, particularly when someone suddenly becomes unresponsive at home.Garg also said unexplained symptoms should not be ignored, particularly by people with cardiac risk factors. For those living alone, recognising warning symptoms early and seeking medical attention promptly becomes even more important, he said.
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