[Add-on-LUCAS2™ resuscitation at NEF Innsbruck]

The study goals were to analyze the course and compare it with patients who were only resuscitated manually as well as to record the influencing factors in patients in whom the mechanical chest compression aid LUCAS2™ was used as an add-on treatment at the NEF Innsbruck.

Retrospective history data analysis of patients in the study period from 01.01.2014 to 31.12.2019 of the NEF Innsbruck from the German Resuscitation Register (GRR), in which LUCAS2™ was used as an add-on treatment according to an emergency doctor's order.

A total of 123 add-on LUCAS2™ applications (18.8%) were performed in 653 resuscitations. Of all patients 16.2% survived the first 30 days. By using add-on-LUCAS2^TM application 7.3% (9/123) of all add-on LUCAS2^TM resuscitations and 1.4% (n = 9) of all CPR survived. Cardiac arrest was observed in 8/9 add-on LUCAS2™ 30-day survivors and bystander CPR was performed and 8/9 showed ventricular fibrillation as the primary rhythm. Compared to manual CPR alone, add-on LUCAS2™ resuscitation was used highly significantly (p < 0.001) more frequently in younger, male patients, in public, in shockable initial rhythms and during transport, and significantly more frequently in observed cardiac arrest (p < 0.05). The 30-day mortality with additive lysis treatment was 100%.

By using add-on LUCAS2™ CPR a percentage increase in survival rate can be achieved and thus appears advantageous (1.4% in our study). This means that high-quality CPR can be carried out on patients with favorable prognostic factors, even with technically complex rescue operations (turntable ladder, staircase, transport in an ambulance) and thus transport can be made possible; however, there is a higher admission rate under CPR and thus the treatment target decision is shifted to the shock room.