Anomalous ECG downloads from semi-automatic external defibrillators.
The coincidental print-out by two different Laerdal systems (subsequently called 'system A' and 'system B') of the same medical control module (MCM) for a Laerdal Heartstart 2000 semi-automatic external defibrillator (SAED) led to the discovery of three deficiencies in the information storage and printing processes. First, we noted that the impedance reported via system A was consistently higher. Second, we found the attachment of 'mysterious' ECG samples in the reports from system B, but not from system A. A third problem was the unpredictable (in)ability of system B to print out the information from the MCMs. Further investigations with help from the company suggested that the above-mentioned problems were caused by incompatibilities between the software in the different parts of equipment used (i.e. SAED devices, MCMs, printing systems and a computer program to store the information in a database). These observations demonstrate the need for strict medical supervision on all aspects of a SAED project, and for feed-back from clinicians to manufacturers.
Calle
P A
PA
University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Gent, Belgium.
Vanhaute
O
O
Ranhoff
J F
JF
Buylaert
W A
WA
D000368:Aged; D016287:Computer Peripherals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male