Interesting NAEMSP Abstracts

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Early Autopulse Deployment Significantly Improves Rosc but not Survival

Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Amy Gutman, Derrel Graham, Jr.,

Donna Carden, Pringle, Jr., LSU-HSC, Shreveport, Louisiana

Introduction/Hypothesis: Recent American Heart Association guideline updates

emphasize the need for effective chest compressions during cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR) to enhance survival following cardiac arrest. The

AutoPulse resuscitation device (Revivant Corporation) provides effective

chest compressions during CPR by disseminating force over the anterior chest

with a load distributing band. The purpose of this study was to test the

hypothesis that use of the AutoPulse in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

(OOHCA) improves ROSC and survival in victims of cardiac arrest. Methods:

Retrospective, IRB-approved case-review conducted at a university, tertiary

care referral center. Consecutive adults with nontraumatic OOHCA were

divided into before AutoPulse (BAP) (March 2004-March 2005) and after

AutoPulse (AAP) (June 2005-June 2006) groups. Data collected from EMS and

hospital records were analyzed by using a Mann-Whitney nonparametric

Student's t-test or b.chi2 and compared gender, age, presenting rhythm, ALS

response time, ROSC, 24-hour survival, and survival-to-discharge between

groups. Time to device application was analyzed in survivors and

non-survivors in the AAP group. Results: There were 224 patients in the BAP

group and 166 in the AAP group. There were no differences in baseline

characteristics between groups. Mean time to AutoPulse application was 7.3

minutes in patients with ROSC and 8.2 minutes in those without ROSC (p >

0.05). BAP was 51/224 (23%) and 57/166 (34%) in the AAP group (p = 0.04).

Twenty-four hour survival and survival-to-discharge were 12 and 6%

respectively in the BAP group (both p > 0.05) and 14% and 10%, respectively,

in the AAP group (both p > 0.05). Presenting rhythm did not affect outcome

in patients who survived cardiac arrest. Conclusions: Use of the AutoPulse

resuscitation device significantly improves ROSC but not survival in

out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.