Summary
Effectiveness of the use of semiautomatic defibrillation in basic life support services
Affiliation of the authors
DOI
Quote
Moreno Martín JL, Esquilas Sánchez O, Corral Torres E, Suárez Bustamante RM, Vargas Román MI. Effectiveness of the use of semiautomatic defibrillation in basic life support services. Emergencias. 2009;21:12-6
Summary
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the importance of the use of
semiautomatic defibrillation for the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest
of any etiology attended initially by basic life support ambulante services. The analysis
was based on survival and neurological evaluation 7 days after the event.
Design: A prospective, descriptive, transverse, longitudinal study that analyzed survival
and the neurological status using the Glasgow-Pittsburgh scale 7 days after cardiorespiratory
arrest in 233 patients attended over a 5-year period by a twotier, urban, out-ofhospital
emergency service based in Madrid, Spain (SAMUR-PC).
Results: Survival with complete recovery observed after out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory
arrest was 7.29%, a figure very similar to the results for recovery in our department
(12%), which included the arrests attended directly by advanced life support services.
There was a significant difference between the patients given early defibrillation
by the basic life support team and those in whom this was not performed based on
the initial rhythm. It was also found that the initial call for assistance specified cardiorespiratory
arrest or unconsciousness in only 37.7% of cases.
Conclusions: The primary response to cardiorespiratory arrest by basic life support ambulance
services with semiautomatic external defibrillators can achieve survivals similar to those in
patients attended directly by advanced life support services
