Mechanical Resuscitation Devices Research Articles

Ethical aspects of mechanical resuscitation in achild : Results of an expert workshop within the BMBF project CLAIRE-Children's Automated Intelligent Resuscitation

While the use of mechanical resuscitation devices can be considered for adult resuscitation, the European Resuscitation Council guidelines do not yet mention their use for pediatric resuscitation. Only one device has been partially approved for use in children; further pediatric appliances are currently being used off-label. Ethical considerations arising from the use of mechanical resuscitation devices have not yet been presented in astructured way. To elaborate ethical considerations in the development phase of mechanical resuscitation devices for children. Based on several fictitious case reports, an interdisciplinary expert focus group discussion was conducted. This was followed by amoderated discussion, summarizing the results. Guiding principles and research desiderata were formulated using these results as well as existing literature. According to the group of experts, ethical considerations regarding mechanical resuscitation devices in pediatrics predominantly concern the subject of indication and discontinuation criteria. Ethical aspects concerning psychosocial impacts on affected families and intervention teams cannot be generalized and need to be analyzed on acase-by-case basis. The considerations presented regarding the use of mechanical resuscitation devices in the pediatric context, which is still in its developmental stage, could also have practical implications for adult out-of-hospital resuscitation decisions. Concerning ethical aspects of out-of-hospital resuscitation decisions, especially using mechanical resuscitation devices, the need for accompanying empirical research is substantial.

Corpuls cpr resuscitation device generates superior emulated flows and pressures than LUCAS II in a mechanical thorax model.

The provision of sufficient chest compression is among the most important factors influencing patient survival during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). One approach to optimize the quality of chest compressions is to use mechanical-resuscitation devices. The aim of this study was to compare a new device for chest compression (corpuls cpr) with an established device (LUCAS II). We used a mechanical thorax model consisting of a chest with variable stiffness and an integrated heart chamber which generated blood flow dependent on the compression depth and waveform. The method of blood-flow generation could be changed between direct cardiac-compression mode and thoracic-pump mode. Different chest-stiffness settings and compression modes were tested to generate various blood-flow profiles. Additionally, an endurance test at high stiffness was performed to measure overall performance and compression consistency. Both resuscitation machines were able to compress the model thorax with a frequency of 100/min and a depth of 5cm, independent of the chosen chest stiffness. Both devices passed the endurance test without difficulty. The corpuls cpr device was able to generate about 10-40% more blood flow than the LUCAS II device, depending on the model settings. In most scenarios, the corpuls cpr device also generated a higher blood pressure than the LUCAS II. The peak compression forces during CPR were about 30% higher using the corpuls cpr device than with the LUCAS II. In this study, the corpuls cpr device had improved blood flow and pressure outcomes than the LUCAS II device. Further examination in an animal model is required to prove the findings of this preliminary study.

Technical assist devices : Perspectives and new developments

The development of technical assist devices in the context of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) reaches back to the early roots of modern resuscitation research. This article covers the subjects of extracorporeal CPR (ECPR), including extracorporeal life support (ECLS), emergency ECLS (EECLS) and mechanical resuscitation devices. Specifically, the potential use of active compression-decompression CPR (ACD-CPR), impedance threshold devices (ITD) and capnography as additional measures during resuscitation are described in detail. Furthermore, the article presents acompact preview of the potential future developments of technical aids in the field of life support and postresuscitation care.

Resuscitation - Adult advanced life support

Enhanced measures for resuscitation of adults are based on basic measures of resuscitation. The central elements are highly effective chest compressions and avoidance of disruptions that are associated with poor patient outcomes that occur within seconds. The universal algorithm distinguishes the therapy for ventricular fibrillation from the therapy in asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) by the need of defibrillation, and amiodarone administration in the former. Defibrillation is biphasic. In all other aspects, there are no differences in therapy. In each episode of cardiac arrest, reversible causes should be excluded or treated. For the diagnosis during resuscitation, sonography can be helpful. What is new in the 2015 ERC recommendations is the use of capnography, which can be used for the assessment of ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation), ventilation, resuscitation and intubation quality. Mechanical resuscitation devices can be used in selected situations. Successful primary resuscitation should be directly followed by measures of the post-resuscitation care.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation using electrically driven devices: a review.

In the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) immediate resuscitation with chest compressions and ventilation is crucial for survival. As manual resuscitation is associated with several drawbacks, mechanical resuscitation devices have been developed to support resuscitation teams. These devices are able to achieve better perfusion of heart and brain in laboratory settings, but real world experience showed no significant improved survival in comparison to manual resuscitation. This review will focus on two mechanical resuscitation devices, the Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS) and AutoPulse devices and the actual literature available. In conclusion, the general use of mechanical resuscitation devices cannot be recommended at the moment.

Mechanische Reanimationshilfen

In Germany 100,000-160,000 people suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) annually. The incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after OHCA varies between emergency ambulance services but is in the range of 30-90 CPR attempts per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Basic life support (BLS) involving chest compressions and ventilation is the key measure of resuscitation. Rapid initiation and quality of BLS are the most critical factors for CPR success. Even healthcare professionals are not always able to ensure the quality of CPR measures. Consequently in recent years mechanical resuscitation devices have been developed to optimize chest compression and the resulting circulation. In this article the mechanical resuscitation devices currently available in Germany are discussed and evaluated scientifically in context with available literature. The ANIMAX CPR device should not be used outside controlled trials as no clinical results have so far been published. The same applies to the new device Corpuls CPR which will be available on the market in early 2014. Based on the current published data a general recommendation for the routine use of LUCAS™ and AutoPulse® CPR cannot be given. The preliminary data of the CIRC trial and the published data of the LINC trial revealed that mechanical CPR is apparently equivalent to good manual CPR. For the final assessment further publications of large randomized studies must be analyzed (e.g. the CIRC and PaRAMeDIC trials). However, case control studies, case series and small studies have already shown that in special situations and in some cases patients will benefit from the automatic mechanical resuscitation devices (LUCAS™, AutoPulse®). This applies especially to emergency services where standard CPR quality is far below average and for patients who require prolonged CPR under difficult circumstances. This might be true in cases of resuscitation due to hypothermia, intoxication and pulmonary embolism as well as for patients requiring transport or coronary intervention when cardiac arrest persists. Three prospective randomized studies and the resulting meta-analysis are available for active compression-decompression resuscitation (ACD-CPR) in combination with an impedance threshold device (ITD). These studies compared ACD-ITD-CPR to standard CPR and clearly demonstrated that ACD-ITD-CPR is superior to standard CPR concerning short and long-term survival with good neurological recovery after OHCA.