PARAMEDIC INTERVENTIONS INCREASE THE RATE OF RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION IN OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARRESTS

Objective--To determine whether paramedic interventions increased the rate of return of spontaneous circulation in the victims of out of hos pital cardiac arrest. Methods--A retrospective analysis of 276 out of hospital cardiac arrests was made. Data analysed included age, sex, pr esenting rhythm, ambulance response time, presence of a pulse at any p oint, interventions performed by the ambulance crews, and survival to discharge. Results--146 patients were treated by paramedics and 130 by technicians. There was no difference in the rate of return of spontan eous circulation or survival to discharge in patients presenting in ve ntricular fibrillation (VF). In non-VF arrests there was no increase i n survival to discharge, but 15% of patients in non-VF arrests achieve d a return of spontaneous circulation when treated by paramedics compa red to none treated by technicians. There were no other significant di fferences in any of the variables assessed. Conclusions--Out of hospit al cardiac arrests presenting in VF are managed equally well by parame dics and technicians. However, in non-VF arrests there is a significan tly increased rate of return of spontaneous circulation in those patie nts attended by paramedics.