Resuscitation, prolonged cardiac arrest, and an automated chest compression device.
BACKGROUND
The European Resuscitation Council's 2005 guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) emphasize the delivery of uninterrupted chest compressions of adequate depth during cardiac arrest.


OBJECTIVE
To describe how the circumstances of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can impede the performance of CPR, and how this situation can be overcome.


METHODS
The presentation of two cases of prolonged CPR (48 min and 120 min, respectively) with an automated chest compression device, the AutoPulse, under difficult circumstances. Both patients survived without neurological sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged chest compressions may be necessary in some cardiac arrests. These cases suggest that automated chest compression devices may increase the chance of a favorable outcome in these rare situations.
Risom
Martin
M
Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Section 4231, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jørgensen
Henrik
H
Rasmussen
Lars S
LS
Sørensen
Anne Marie
AM
D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors