title: Hands-off Time during Automated Chest Compression Device Application in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Case Series Report.
abstract: During out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), chest compression interruptions or hands-off time (HOT) affect the prognosis. Our aim was to measure HOT due to the application of an automated chest compression device (ACD) by an advanced life support team.
  
  
  
  This was a prospective observational case series report since the introduction of a new method of installing the ACD. Inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old with OHCA who were treated with an ACD (Lucas 2(TM), Physio-Control). The ACD application was indicated only for OHCA patients transported to a hospital for Extra Corporeal Life Support (ECLS). We recorded the HOT related to switching from manual to mechanical chest compressions. An ACD consists of dorsal and ventral components, which can be installed either in one or in two steps, separated from a chest compression sequence. HOT was expressed as a median number of seconds [interquartile range].
  
  
  
  From January 1, 2012 to January 15, 2013, 30 patients were included. In the case of ACD application in one phase (n = 16), the median HOT was 25.3 s [19.8-30.5]. With regard to patients with an ACD application in two phases (n = 14), the median HOT was, respectively, 9.8 s [7.8-17] and 12.4 s [9.5-16.2], that is, a median global HOT of 23.6 s [19-27.6]. HOT was not different between ACD applications in one or two phases (p = 0.52). For a two phase application, the median chest compression time between the two manipulations was 14.2 s [6.4-18].
  
  
  
  There was no significant difference between techniques in the application of the Lucas 2(TM) device in terms of HOT. The short time needed to apply the device lends itself well to use as a primary chest compression modality during cardiac arrest as well as a bridge to novel resuscitation strategies (ECLS). A further study is currently underway with a larger number of ECLS patients.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maurin
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frattini
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jost
authors.forename: Noémie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galinou
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alhanati
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dang Minh
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Genotelle
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burlaton
authors.forename: Stanislas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Regloix
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bignand
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tourtier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: automated chest compression; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; hands-off time; out-of-hospital cardiac arrest