Cardiac arrest in medical and dental practices - Implications for automated external defibrillators

Background: To determine the need for placing automated external defibrilla tors (AEDs) in medical and dental practices, we identified cardiac arrests at these locations. Methods: Locations of cardiac arrest were abstracted from Emergency Medical Services data from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1996. We calculat ed the annual incidence of cardiac arrest per type of practice. Results: There were 142 cardiac arrests in medical or dental practices. Dia lysis centers had a relatively high incidence of cardiac arrest (greater th an or equal to0.746 per practice annually). Cardiology, internal and family medicine, and urgent care centers had a medium incidence (greater than or equal to0.01 per practice annually). All other medical and dental practices had a low incidence (less than or equal to0.002 annually). Conclusions: Placement of 779 AEDs in the high- and medium-incidence practi ces would have provided treatment for 112 patients with cardiac arrest in 7 years. To provide for the 16 cardiac arrests in low-incidence practices, a n additional 1928 AEDs would be required.