Use of automated external defibrillators for children: an update--an advisory statement from the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Task Force, International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation.

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

On the basis of the published evidence to date, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Task Force of ILCOR has made the following recommendation (October 2002): This statement expands and clarifies the 2000 ILCOR recommendations about the potential use of AEDs in children. The need for this update has become critical. A growing number of AEDs for adults are being placed in public access settings, and the use of AEDs by nontraditional responders is increasing. The likelihood for use of AEDs in smaller (<25 kg), younger (<8 years of age) patients is now a reality. This statement provides the rationale for development of AEDs, outlines questions about the efficacy and safety of AEDs used in smaller, younger children, and summarizes recent efforts to justify the use of existing or modified AEDs in smaller, younger children. ### Rationale for AED Use The primary determinant of survival from VF cardiac arrest is the time interval from collapse until defibrillation. Out-of-hospital defibrillation within the first 3 minutes of witnessed adult … Address correspondence to Ricardo A. Samson, MD, Department of Pediatrics, 1501 N Campbell, Tucson, AZ 85724-5073. E-mail: rsamson{at}peds.arizona.edu