The Role of Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Devices in Emergency Medical Services
Apiratwarakul K, MD1, Songserm W, MD1, Ienghong K, MD1, Phungoen P, MD1, Gaysonsiri D, MD2, Bhudhisawasdi V, MD1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices were developed over 60 years ago to help with chest
compressions in patients suffering from cardiac arrest. However, no studies examining mechanical CPR devices have been conducted
in EMS patients at Srinagarind Hospital.
Objective : To compare the effectiveness of mechanical and manual CPR.
Materials and Methods : This was a retrospective descriptive study. The sample consisted of 73 patients over 18 years of age who
were diagnosed with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by EMS personnel from January 2016 to December 2019. Data were
collected from the Srinagarind Hospital EMS operation database and hospital information database system.
Results : There were a total of 9,670 operations conducted by Srinagarind Hospital EMS during the study period. One hundred
sixteen subjects were diagnosed with OHCA, of whom 73 were examined. Just over half (52.2%) of the patients who received
mechanical CPR were over 65 years of age. The average on-scene time for mechanical and manual CPR was 10.20 minutes and 15.30
minutes, respectively (p = 0.020), and chest compression time was 6.32 minutes and 4.20 minutes, respectively (p = 0.014).
Conclusion : Use of mechanical CPR devices on OHCA patients did not improve activation or response time but significantly decreased
on-scene time and increased chest compression time.
Keywords : Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, Emergency mobile units, Ambulances
