Saving Lives, Safer Rides with Automated-Chest Compressions from Physio-Control

For EMTs and paramedics, automation can allow them to focus on other aspects of patient care and help save more lives. The LUCAS Chest Compression System from Physio-Control is no exception.

As one of the first adopters of the LUCAS device, Kevin Traynor, senior clinical supervisor for Cypress Creek EMS in Spring, TX, says his agency saw an opportunity for paramedics to focus on other things in the resuscitation effort besides compressions.

“We (initially) deployed it with our supervisors on all cardiac arrests and we saw some tremendous results. Not only does it free up our paramedics’ hands, it also provides better compressions than anybody could do manually, and that ultimately equates to better perfusion of the vital organs and increases our potential for getting that patient back from cardiac arrest.”

Seeing such remarkable perfusion, Traynor explains, CCEMS started to measure end-tidal CO₂ rates, blood pressures and SpO₂ readings on patients in cardiac arrest. They actually observed normalizing end-tidal CO₂ rates, blood pressures and SpO₂ in cardiac arrest patients, and with the application of the LUCAS device CCEMS have seen a 10% appreciation in ROSC rates.

Following a trial period, CCEMS deployed the LUCAS device to every truck in their system. They also opted to transition from the LUCAS 1, which operates pneumatically via compressed air cylinders and requires no electrical supply, to the LUCAS 2, which runs off of lithium-ion polymer battery technology, has a long shelf life and requires no test-cycle maintenance.

And one big advantage for the medics, Traynor says: Being a hands-free device, the LUCAS Chest Compression System allows medics to stay strapped in during transport. “That’s a huge challenge when you’re talking about a cardiac arrest you’re transporting to a hospital. The LUCAS device allow us to do good, high-quality compressions on the way to the hospital, and our crews in the back are seated and a whole lot safer.”

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