Full Recovery after Prolonged Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation with Mechanical Chest Compression Device during Helicopter Transportation and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

• Published in: The Journal of emergency medicine Vol. 47; no. 6; pp. 632 - 634
• Main Authors: Forti, Alessandro, MD, Zilio, Giovanna, MD, Zanatta, Paolo, MD, Ferramosca, Marialuisa, MD, Gatto, Cristiano, PN, Gheno, Antonio, PN, Rosi, Paolo, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2014
• Subjects: Air Ambulances; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - methods; Emergency; emergency percutaneous intervention; Heart Massage - instrumentation; HEMS helicopter; Humans; LUCAS; Male; mechanical chest compression device; Middle Aged; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - therapy; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Recovery of Function; survival; Treatment Outcome; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; LUCAS; HEMS helicopter; emergency percutaneous intervention; mechanical chest compression device; survival
• ISSN: 0736-4679; 2352-5029
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2014.06.066

Abstract Background Despite early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders and early advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) maneuvers, some patients present to the emergency department with persistent cardiac arrest caused by a coronary artery occlusion. Although emergency percutaneous intervention (PCI) has been shown to be effective in improving survival, transporting patients in cardiac arrest to the hospital is not considered to be effective, due to the poor quality of CPR in the ambulance. In the case reported here, a mechanical chest compression device was used while transporting the patient by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). Case Report A mechanical chest compression device was used to deliver chest compressions to a 53-year-old man in cardiac arrest. This device permitted the transfer of the patient by HEMS helicopter to the catheterization laboratory facility for a PCI. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved 115 min after cardiac arrest and the patient survived without any neurological deficit. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? The mechanical chest compression device has permitted safe and effective CPR during helicopter transportation. Although this is only a single case, it may present a new perspective for the treatment of prehospital cardiac arrest that is refractory to ACLS therapies.