Excerpts from the news-gazette.com:
Champaign’s Fire Chief Gary Ludwig witnessed the benefits of using mechanical CPR devices in Memphis, Tenn., where he previously was a deputy chief.
That department equipped all of its front-line ambulances with mechanical CPR devices and saw an immediate boost — from 21 percent to 36 percent — in cardiac-arrest patients with a return of spontaneous circulation.
Now the Champaign Fire Department is poised to put 24 of these devices to work in a dozen fire departments in Champaign and Piatt counties with the help of a federal grant, the acceptance of which still requires the approval of the city council.
The fire department has been awarded a $333,819 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is proposing to keep nine of the mechanical CPR devices it would buy to equip its own vehicles and distribute others to Urbana, Bement, Bondville, Gifford, Homer, Ivesdale, Northern Piatt, Rantoul, Sadorus, Sangamon Valley, and Savoy fire departments.
Reviews about the benefits of mechanical CPR have been mixed. The American Heart Association said in updated (2015) CPR guidelines that evidence for using mechanical piston devices for chest compressions versus manual chest compressions in patients with cardiac arrest “does not demonstrate a benefit.”
“Manual chest compressions remain the standard of care for the treatment of cardiac arrest,” the organization said.
However, it also said, the device may be a reasonable alternative in some settings where high-quality manual CPR delivery may be challenging or dangerous for the provider.
Ludwig said he disputes less-than-favorable studies, based on his previous experience with mechanical CPR use and favorable studies he’s seen on the LUCAS chest compression system, one of the devices on the market.
Ludwig said some studies don’t necessarily show what paramedics and firefighters experience in the field trying to do manual CPR under some circumstances — such as trying to deliver chest compressions in the back of a moving emergency vehicle hanging on with one arm.
Dr. Brad Weir, Carle’s EMS medical director, said these devices deliver “flawless and tireless compressions.”
“Instead of having people do it and switch compressors every couple of minutes, the machine can do it,” he said.
The quality of CPR can begin to fall off as the person doing the chest compressions becomes exhausted, which is why caregivers administering the compressions are advised to switch off every couple of minutes.
“In areas where you may not have as many people to perform the compressions, this could be key to the source of flawless, tireless compressions for a longer time,” Weir said.
Subject to the council’s approval of the grant, Ludwig said firefighters and EMS personnel on a cardiac arrest call will begin with manual CPR, apply the device to the patient, and the patient would ride to the hospital undergoing CPR with the mechanical device.
Approval of the grant isn’t yet on a city council agenda. The federal grant requires council approval because there’s a local funding match of $33,381 involved, according to the fire department.
thanks Dan
#1 by Bmurphy on July 12, 2017 - 7:41 AM
Watch the first 20 minutes or so of the pilot episode of EMERGENCY! from January of 1972 and you’ll see an early ‘thumper’ in action, in an ER setting.
Regarding LT501’s comments, I would imagine that any mechanical CPR device applied by an FD unit would most certainly remain in place during transport and would have to be picked-up by or returned to the owner from the ER later, like we do now with backboards and similar equipment.
Bring the ‘CPR guy’ on the engine, I’d love to see a few of these in my department.
#2 by Wayne on July 12, 2017 - 12:22 AM
The new devices are quick and easy to set up, and don’t require attention when loading into the ambulance. They fit on the stretcher without hanging over and actually keep CPR going while the patient is being carried to and loaded into the ambulance. They’re very light as well. I’m not from down that way so I don’t know about the specifics of the deployment but these devices are great, especially in areas with limited manpower.
#3 by LT501 on July 11, 2017 - 11:24 PM
I don’t believe “mechanical CPR” is all that new. Back in the late 70’s and 80’s, many FD’s used a device called a “thumper” to perform automatic chest compressions. As I recall it took time to set-up and special care needed to be exercised when moving a patient in/out of an ambulance so the compressing device would not slip off the sternum and crack ribs. Also, I find it interesting that these newer devices will be going on many of the fire vehicles in Champaign County, yet none of these FD’s have ambulances (to the best of my knowledge). The two major hospitals, Provena and Carle provide county-wide coverage via their own Pro-Care and Arrow ambulances. Will they be equipped with mechanical CPR devices as well ?