Automated external defibrillators (AED) in pre-hospital care (PHC) and public access to defibrillation: a real necessity

Abstract

The aim of this work is discussing technical aspects and the use of AED in PHC services and to objectively present evidencesfavoring the effectiveness of the public access to defibrillation. As this is not a metanalysis, but a descriptive literature survey, we selectedarticles in MEDLINE’s database using the search words “cardiac arrest”, “cardiopulmonary resuscitation”, “public access defibrillation”and “out-of- hospital”. The articles were evaluated by analyzing methods and determination of limitations on the design. We found 156articles and 33 have been chosen that presented relevant conclusions of the main studies demonstrating that AEDs are effective for dailyuse and present a good correlation cost-benefit, have a strong impact in survival of cardiac arrest victims outside the hospital. Publicaccess to defibrillation and to PHC teams having AED equipment has a positive impact in the survival of victims of cardiac arrest; andprograms for qualification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be offered to professionals and the community.