Apparatus and method for self-induced cough cardiopulmonary resuscitation

A treatment kit for self-treatment of cardiac arrhythmia by a patient, said kit comprising:

• a nebulizer apparatus including a container sized to be portable by the patient and having a chamber containing a medicament composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier mixed with chemoirritant effective for causing an involuntary cough sufficient to maintain at least partial blood circulation in the patient, a nebulizing valve connected to said chamber, a source of pneumatic pressure motivating said composition from the chamber through the nebulizing valve to cause nebulization of said composition, a wireless transmitter responsive to activation of the nebulizer for sending a wireless signal for requesting medical assistance, a location determining system connected for locating the origin of said wireless signal, and a power source operatively connected for providing power to said wireless transmitter;
• and
• an outlet connectable to said container so as to be in fluid connection with said nebulizing valve and downstream therefrom for delivering the nebulized composition into contact with the patient's upper respiratory tract.

A method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, comprising nebulizing into the respiratory tract of a patient a medicament composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier mixed with a chemoirritant effective for producing an involuntary cough in the patient sufficient to maintain at least partial blood circulation.

An L-tartaric acid composition for therapeutic use as a medicament in a patient having cardiac arrhythmia, the composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier mixed with an effective amount of L-tartaric acid for causing production by the patient of an involuntary cough effective to maintain at least partial blood circulation during the cardiac arrhythmia.