PARAMEDICS AND TECHNICIANS ARE EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL AT MANAGING CARDIAC-ARREST OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

Objective-To examine the effect on survival of treatment by ambulance paramedics and ambulance technicians after cardiac arrest outside hosp ital. Design-Prospective study over two years from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1994. Setting-Accident and emergency department of university te aching hospital. Subjects-502 consecutive adult patients with out of h ospital cardiopulmonary arrest of cardiac origin. Interventions-Treatm ent by ambulance technicians or paramedics both equipped with semiauto matic defibrillators. Main outcome measures-Rate of return of spontane ous circulation, hospital admission, and survival to hospital discharg e. Results-Rates of return of spontaneous circulation, hospital admiss ion, and survival to hospital discharge were not significantly differe nt for patients treated by paramedics as opposed to ambulance technici ans. Paramedics spent significantly longer at the scene of the arrest than technicians (P<0.0001). Conclusions-The response of ambulance par amedics to patients with cardiopulmonary arrest outside hospital does not provide improved outcome when compared with ambulance technicians using basic techniques and equipped with semi-automatic defibrillators .