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device
clinical skills
paramedic
evidence
paramedic

Automated external defibrillation: implications for paramedic practice

01 September 2013
Features
02 September 2013
Volume 5 · Issue 9

Abstract

Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition but is one that can respond well to timely intervention such as early defibrillation. The use of Automated External Defibrillators has been shown to reverse serious cardiac arrhythmias and improve patient survival. Automated External Defibrillators analyse patients’ cardiac rhythm and advise on whether or not a patient is in a cardiac arrhythmia that requires a shock as part of the resuscitation attempt. This paper will explore the use of these devices, providing information on when and how they are used.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or sudden cardiac death (SCD) refers to the sudden cessation of cardiac activity with haemodynamic collapse, typically due to sustained ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation. SCA remains a major public health problem that accounts for approximately 60 000 deaths annually in the United Kingdom (Papadakis et al, 2009). In addition, approximately 8 people under the age of 35 years die every week due to sudden cardiac arrest in the UK, with 4.7% of cardiac arrests occurring outside of the hospital environment. About 95% of SCA victims will die before reaching the hospital but early defibrillation can triple a victim's chance of survival, making early and timely defibrillation an important intervention.

Research and clinical observational data seem to suggest that the majority of SCA occurs in patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (El-Sherif et al, 2010), but often there is no identifiable cause. According to Papadakis et al (2009: 2):

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Automated External Defibrillator
Coronary heart disease
Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac death