The fully automatic external cardioverter defibrillator: reality of a new meaningful scenario for in-hospital cardiac arrests.
Sudden cardiac death is an unresolved problem which causes significant mortality and morbidity in both the community and in-hospital setting. Cardiac arrest is often caused by ventricular tachyarrhythmias which may be mostly interrupted by cardioversion or defibrillation. The single most critical factor for survival is the response time. Over the last 30 years, there have been virtually no procedural changes in the way hospitals address in-hospital resuscitation. A unique device has been developed that eliminates human intervention and assures defibrillation therapy is administered in seconds. This is accomplished with a fully automatic, external bedside monitor defibrillator designed to be prophylactically attached to hospitalized patients at risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The safety and efficacy of the device has been demonstrated in multicenter US and European trials. Thus, this device allows a new scenario which may increase survival and enables meaningful redistribution of health resources.
Martínez-Rubio
Antoni
A
Hospital de Sabadell, Department of Cardiology, Fund. Universitaria Parc Taulí, Parc Taulí s/n, E-08208 Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. 22917amr@comb.es
Gusi
Gabriel
G
Guillaumet
Eva
E
Cazorla
Montse
M
Galán
Sonia
S
Bagà
Rosa
R
Guilera
Elena
E
Bonastre
Manel
M
Raimón Gumà
Joan
J
Anguera
Ignaci
I
Ibars
Sonia
S
Ochagavia
Ana
A
Mestre
Jaume
J
Font
Juli
J
Saura
Pilar
P
Dalmases
Martí
M
Blanch
Lluís
L
Artigas
Antoni
A
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D047548:Defibrillators; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005060:Europe; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States