Dispatcher-Assisted CPR for out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in first world countries. Most cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital environment and survival rates have traditionally been poor. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can improve the likelihood of patient survival (5,6) with initiation of bystander CPR further increasing the chance of survival. However, only one third of cardiac arrest patients typically receive CPR before the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS). Dispatcher-assisted CPR can increase the proportion of cardiac arrest victims who receive bystander CPR prior to EMS arrival. 13,14 The rationale for dispatcher-assisted CPR is based on the assumption that CPR can maintain myocardial viability and slow brain death. Dispatcher-assisted CPR allows bystanders to commence CPR at the scene of the arrest using instructions delivered by an EMS dispatcher over the telephone. Dispatcher-assisted CPR commenced in the United States in the early 1980’s, with the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria and Australia now using the system.