The Automated External Defibrillator

Sudden death claims 250,000 lives annually in the U.S. The vast majority of such events are due to ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Even though these arrhythmias can be converted if treated promptly, less than 5% of victims of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survive to hospitaliz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology 2007-08, Vol.18 (8), p.896-899
Main Authors: RHO, ROBERT W., PAGE, RICHARD L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
automated external defibrillator
cardiac resuscitation
defibrillation
Defibrillators
Emergency Medical Services - methods
Guidelines as Topic
Heart Arrest - prevention & control
Humans
Resuscitation - instrumentation
sudden cardiac death
sudden death
United States
ventricular fibrillation
ventricular tachycardia
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Summary:Sudden death claims 250,000 lives annually in the U.S. The vast majority of such events are due to ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Even though these arrhythmias can be converted if treated promptly, less than 5% of victims of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survive to hospitalization. This poor survival is often due to delay in the initiation of quality CPR and defibrillation. Several clinical studies have evaluated the use of an AED by nontraditional emergency medical providers and by laypersons in Public Access Defibrillation programs. These studies have demonstrated a significant improvement in survival due to earlier access to defibrillation provided by the AED. The AED has proven to be safe, reliable, and efficacious in the diagnosis and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias when employed by lay providers/rescuers in a variety of outpatient settings. Society has embraced these data and legislation has been passed that supports the implementation of PAD programs into communities and protects lay rescuers and organizations implementing these programs from liability. Concerns about cost versus benefit still serve as barriers to widespread implementation of PAD programs, but with the declining cost of AEDs and increased public awareness, many communities have initiated PAD programs. We encourage widespread implementation of PAD programs and enhanced public awareness about basic life support, with the expectation that such efforts will enhance survival of out of hospital cardiac arrest.
ISSN:1045-3873
1540-8167
DOI:10.1111/j.1540-8167.2007.00822.x