A new way to treat heart attacks before a patient gets to the hospital

Paramedics can reduce someone's chances of having a cardiac arrest or dying by 50 percent by immediately administering a mixture of glucose, insulin and potassium ("GIK") to people having a heart attack, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session. Patients who received GIK immediately were 50 percent less likely to have cardiac arrest (a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating) or die than those who received a placebo, although the treatment did not prevent the heart attack from occurring. Over the next month, patients who received GIK were 40 percent less likely to have cardiac arrest, die or be hospitalized for heart failure. "Because the trial is the first to show GIK is effective when used by paramedics in real-world community settings, it could have important implications for the treatment of heart attacks," Harry P. Selker, one of the study’s authors said.