For sudden cardiac arrest, new technology may be better than humans at delivering needed treatment.
An automated CPR machine doesn't get tired. CPR needs to be repeated consistently and accurately. According to the American Heart Association, interruptions to chest compressions should be no more than five seconds and compressions need to be given at a rate of 100 per minute.
One answer might be the Zoll AutoPulse, an automated CPR device. It can deliver blood flow without interruptions, minimizing no-flow time. It lets rescuers provide compressions while performing other lifesaving activities or transporting a victim. A recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association found patients had a higher survival rate with AutoPulse than with manual CPR.
A top cardiovascular hospital, Community Hospital East, of Indiana's Community Health Network, uses the device. Said one doctor, "The AutoPulse helps us perform CPR-it doesn't get tired and it frees us up to tend to other lifesaving tasks during a code. Also, the cardiac output generated is about 70 to 75 percent greater than when CPR is done manually. That is significant in terms of survivability and getting the patient's heart beating again."
