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How Long Does It Take For The Heart To Stop After A Cardiac Failure?

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2014

Question: Good evening Specialist Doctor, I recently read in a Post Mortem report "downtime 1 hour". Is that possible? How long does it take for serious brain damage and then decease to occur after cardiac failure ?

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Don't be scared Detailed Answer: Dear You should understand that a patient is declared deceased when the heart stops. When serious brain damage occurred unfortunately the patient loses his cerebral functions and even he is in coma and has no vital functions can't be declared deceased till heart stops. Hope my answer helps you understand Don't hesitate to contact for further questions or explanation Regards Dr Eris Ranxha Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (51 minutes later)

Thanks for the reply. How long does it take for the heart to stop after a cardiac failure? From ordinary knowledge if CPR is not given, then after 4 minutes the patient might decease? Sometimes the patient might survive for ten minutes or more but might have serious brain damage if resuscitated? What does "down time" mean? The time from the first cardiac failure/resuscitation or the time in cardiac arrest before resuscitation?

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Cardiac failure Detailed Answer: Dear If heart stops for more then 6 min then brain damages are irreversible Cardiac failure means that hearts stops. Down time means the time from the first attack till stabilization of vital parameters. Hope I had answered all your questions Regards Dr Eris Ranxha Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (13 hours later)

So if a patient has a cardiac arrest at 2.50 pm and is resuscitated at 2.52 pm and then then has another cardiac arrest at 3.49 what is correct to say at 3.50 pm that the patient has a "down time" of 1 minute or 1 hour or perhaps the description can't be stated until stabilisation occurs? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Reanimation time Detailed Answer: Dear Down time is time of reamination and can't be told till the patient get stabilizatied. If patient is reanimated and stabilizatied till three minutes no brain damage occurs. Hope my answer is understandable Best regards Dr Eris Ranxha

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj