Injuries caused by the AutoPulse and LUCAS II resuscitation systems compared to manual chest compressions
Abstract
Mechanical chest compression devices provide an alternative to manual CPR but may cause injuries. Our prospective study aimed to compare injuries caused by two devices – the AutoPulse (Zoll) and LUCAS II (Jolife) – and manual CPR.
Two EMS units were equipped with mechanical devices. The AutoPulse (A-CPR) was located in a helicopter dispatched predominantly into rural areas, while the LUCAS II (L-CPR) was used by a physician response unit in the city.
Manual CPR (M-CPR) was performed if an ambulance with no device was dispatched. CPR was attempted in thirty patients: 8 A-CPR, 11 L-CPR, and 11 M-CPR.
Injuries were observed in 7/8 (87.5%) in A-CPR, 8/11 (72.7%) in L-CPR, and 3/11 (27.3%) in M-CPR group (P=0.02). Sternal fractures were present in 3/8, 4/11, and 1/11 (P=0.33), multiple rib fractures (≥3) in 4/8, 6/11, and 2/11 (P=0.25), and mediastinal haematomas in 5/8, 2/11, and 0/11 patients (P=0.003).