Death in correctional facilities: opportunities for automated external defibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Death due to cardiovascular disease occurs more frequently in prisons than the national average. Due to close surveillance 24 h/day, the ability to reach the patient within 3 min and time consuming access for the EMS crews, it was hypothesised that the deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) might make improvements regarding Call-to-the-First-AED-Prompt (CTP) interval and formed the aim of this study.


METHODS
Our investigation was analysed on an intention to treat basis and conducted in a prospective, open and observational design. As the primary outcome, the CTP-intervals were compared to the arrival intervals of the EMS. As a secondary outcome, an analysis of all deceased inmates was described.


RESULTS
The average daily population of inmates in Austrian correctional facilities is 7714. During a period of 13 months, 10 instances in which an AED was activated and electrodes attached to a collapsed inmate, were reported. The CTP-interval (median+/-S.D.) was 2.3+/-1.6 S.D. min. It took the EMS 10.0+/-4.3 S.D. min. to arrive at the patient's side. Four out of 10 cases of cardiac arrest occurred due to myocardial infarction. Of 39 deceased inmates, a post mortem examination was completed in 34 cases. In 13 cases, cardiovascular disease was the cause of death.


CONCLUSIONS
The main finding was a four-fold reduction of the CTP-interval. This fact indicates the potential improvements which could be achieved with the deployment of AEDs. Our secondary objective revealed that death due to cardiovascular disease was found in a high proportion and could be considered to be a strong incentive to initiate programmes to counter cardiovascular death in prison.
Roessler
B
B
Research Institute of the Vienna Red Cross, Vienna, Austria.
Fleischhackl
R
R
Fleischhackl
S
S
Singer
F
F
Mittlboeck
M
M
Fachberger
J
J
Malzer
R
R
Koller
A
A
Lang
G
G
Foitik
G
G
Hoerauf
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011330:Prisons / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors