Effectiveness of the use of semiautomatic defibrillation in basic life support services

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 ambulance 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 two-tier, urban, out-of-hospital 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. [Emergencias 2009;21:12-16]