Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the AutoPulse system: a prospective observational study with a new load-distributing band chest compression device.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness, the safety, and the practicability of the new automated load-distributing band resuscitation device AutoPulse in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the midsized urban emergency service of Bonn city.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
Measurements of effectiveness were the proportion of patients with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and end-tidal carbon-dioxide (etCO(2)) values during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The indications of safety was the proportion of injuries caused by the device, and practicability was assessed by the measurement of the time taken to setup the AutoPulse.


RESULTS
Forty-six patients were resuscitated with the device from September 2004 to May 2005. In 25 patients (54.3%) ROSC was achieved, 18 patients (39.1%) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), and 10 patients (21.8%) were discharged from ICU. End-tidal capnography showed significantly higher etCO(2) values in patients with ROSC than in patients without ROSC. The mean time to setup the AutoPulse was 4.7+/-5.9 min, but activation of the device after arrival at the scene in 2 min or less was possible in 67.4%. No injuries were detected after use of the AutoPulse-CPR.


CONCLUSIONS
The AutoPulse system is an effective and safe mechanical CPR device useful in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest CPR. Automated CPR devices may play an increasingly important role in CPR in the future because they assure continuous chest compressions of a constant quality.
Krep
Henning
H
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, D-50924 Köln, Germany. henning.krep@uk-koeln.de
Mamier
Mathias
M
Breil
Martin
M
Heister
Ulrich
U
Fischer
Matthias
M
Hoeft
Andreas
A
D000368:Aged; D019296:Capnography; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D002245:Carbon Dioxide