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Is an automated chest compression device better than manual chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation? In a physician-staffed prehospital system in Paris, researchers prospectively analyzed hemodynamic data from 29 adult patients (mean age, 62) who had refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and received manual chest compressions, intubation and mechanical ventilation, defibrillation (if indicated), and intravenous epinephrine (median dose, 7 mg) before application of an automated band chest compression device (AutoPulse). Femoral arterial catheters were inserted to monitor hemodynamics during manual and automated compressions.
Initial rhythms were asystole (23 patients), pulseless electrical activity (4), and ventricular fibr…