Cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States. The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 356,000 annually. The overall survival and prognosis rates remain dismally low and give rise to immense public health concerns. Considering the extent of morbidity and its potential to cause sudden death, immediate emergency management, and a prompt first-response is imperative.

Does Automated External Defibrillator Help In Managing Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest due to rhythm abnormalities of heart has a higher risk of mortality. Rhythm problems like ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are the main culprits but they respond to electrical shocks. The treatment, however, is highly time-dependent and each minute of delay reduces the survival rate. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain an effective chain of survival to improve prognostic outcomes. The chain of survival entails three steps:

• Early access
• Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Early advanced cardiac care

An automated external defibrillator plays a vital role in early cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a medical device that can detect dysrhythmias and respond promptly by delivering a shock to the heart. Electric shocks, delivered timely, can return the normal heart rhythm and buy time for the initiation of advanced cardiac support.

What Is The Prevalence Of a Bystander Initiated Shock By AED?

The average time for emergency service response is 6 to 8 minutes in the US. So, the out-of-hospital cardiac arrests need first-response by a bystander. Locating an AED and delivering shock before EMTs arrive can improve the survival rate and functional prognosis of a cardiac event.

60% of cardiac arrests outside the hospital are shockable and can be managed by a bystander initiated response. However, according to an estimate, the trend of bystander delivering a shock by using AED is 18.8% in the US. This proportion is low due to the inability of recognizing a shockable cardiac event and the unavailability of an AED at the location.

What Is The Impact of Bystander AED Use On Survival Rate Of Cardiac Arrest?

The bystander intervention by using an automated external defibrillator not only reduces the risk of mortality but also functional outcomes in long run.

• Improvement in overall survival rate

The current estimates reveal that the overall survival rate of cardiac arrest increases from 43% to 66.5% with a bystander-delivered shock. One research study indicates that 500 lives are saved in the US annually due to bystander operated AED.

This percentage is significantly higher than the survival rate with emergency service management alone because the rhythm correction of the heart is strictly time-sensitive.

• Improvement in functional outcomes

Cardiac arrest survivors also tend to experience functional disabilities afterward due to prolonged interruption in blood supply to vital organs. The neurological function is most frequently compromised. However, the immediate defibrillations can double the chances of healthy cerebral performance after a cardiac arrest. The possibility of favorable neurological outcomes improves dramatically from 32.7% to 57.1% for people managed by bystander use of AED.

These statistics clearly indicate the importance of the availability of automated external defibrillators in public settings where cardiac events are more likely. The easy access along with adequate training for recognition of shockable cardiac event can guarantee an uninterrupted chain of survival and prevent significant loss of lives.

About the Myra Logan Heart Fund

AEDs save lives. Of the 424,000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that happen annually in the United States, only 10% of victims survive. The chances of survival increase from 6% to 74% if an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is used to deliver shock therapy within three to five minutes of a heart attack, but tragically only a tiny fraction of cardiac arrest victims in the United States ever get the immediate help they need.

The Myra Logan Heart Fund’s mission is to get an AED into every home, office and school. Its purpose is to educate the public about the importance of AEDs, increase their accessibility, and empower people to save lives.