Efficacy of out of hospital defibrillation by ambulance technicians using automated external defibrillators. The Heartstart Scotland Project

Paramedics and technicians are equally successful at managing cardiac arrest outside hospital

“…The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge of 14.9% for patients with witnessed cardiac arrest and a primary rhythm of ventricular fibrillation is higher than the national figure3 4 and is similar to values from other well established programmes 10…”

Paramedics and technicians are equally successful at managing cardiac arrest outside hospital

“…The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge of 14.9% for patients with witnessed cardiac arrest and a primary rhythm of ventricular fibrillation is higher than the national figure3 4 and is similar to values from other well established programmes 10…”

Effect of reducing ambulance response times on deaths from out of hospital cardiac arrest: cohort study

“…In our study, 34% of patients in the test group did not receive defibrillation. The ambulances were equipped with automated defibrillators, which have been shown to administer shocks in 90-94% of patients in ventricular fibrillation 12. Therefore, the reason for not defibrillating in most cases was probably the presence of asystole or pulseless electrical activity (electromechanical dissociation) rather than inappropriate management.…”

The Automated External Defibrillator: Critical Link in the Chain of Survival

“…Experience to date (detailed below) has consistently demonstrated excellent sensitivity for the detection of VF, as well as specificity for the detection of rhythms not requiring shock therapy (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Sensitivity for VF detection ranges from 96% to 100%, and specificity for non-VF rhythms is near 100% in various cardiac arrest situations (9)(10)(11)(12). On rare occasions, low-amplitude, fine VF was not detected by the AED.…”

Paramedics and technicians are equally successful at managing cardiac arrest outside hospital

“…The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge of 14.9% for patients with witnessed cardiac arrest and a primary rhythm of ventricular fibrillation is higher than the national figure3 4 and is similar to values from other well established programmes 10…”

Effect of reducing ambulance response times on deaths from out of hospital cardiac arrest: cohort study

“…In our study, 34% of patients in the test group did not receive defibrillation. The ambulances were equipped with automated defibrillators, which have been shown to administer shocks in 90-94% of patients in ventricular fibrillation 12. Therefore, the reason for not defibrillating in most cases was probably the presence of asystole or pulseless electrical activity (electromechanical dissociation) rather than inappropriate management.…”

The Automated External Defibrillator: Critical Link in the Chain of Survival

“…Experience to date (detailed below) has consistently demonstrated excellent sensitivity for the detection of VF, as well as specificity for the detection of rhythms not requiring shock therapy (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Sensitivity for VF detection ranges from 96% to 100%, and specificity for non-VF rhythms is near 100% in various cardiac arrest situations (9)(10)(11)(12). On rare occasions, low-amplitude, fine VF was not detected by the AED.…”

Paramedics and technicians are equally successful at managing cardiac arrest outside hospital

“…The overall rate of survival to hospital discharge of 14.9% for patients with witnessed cardiac arrest and a primary rhythm of ventricular fibrillation is higher than the national figure3 4 and is similar to values from other well established programmes 10…”

Effect of reducing ambulance response times on deaths from out of hospital cardiac arrest: cohort study

“…In our study, 34% of patients in the test group did not receive defibrillation. The ambulances were equipped with automated defibrillators, which have been shown to administer shocks in 90-94% of patients in ventricular fibrillation 12. Therefore, the reason for not defibrillating in most cases was probably the presence of asystole or pulseless electrical activity (electromechanical dissociation) rather than inappropriate management.…”

The Automated External Defibrillator: Critical Link in the Chain of Survival

“…Experience to date (detailed below) has consistently demonstrated excellent sensitivity for the detection of VF, as well as specificity for the detection of rhythms not requiring shock therapy (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Sensitivity for VF detection ranges from 96% to 100%, and specificity for non-VF rhythms is near 100% in various cardiac arrest situations (9)(10)(11)(12). On rare occasions, low-amplitude, fine VF was not detected by the AED.…”