Drönare som räddar liv vid plötsligt hjärtstopp

Background

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) affects 275 000 individuals in Europe each year and survival rates are low (11 %). There is an urgent need for novel methods that shortens the time to treatment with an automated external defibrillator (AED) so that about 50 – 70 % of all patients with OHCA may survive in areas with long ambulance response intervals.

Decreasing the delay may done by using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) i.e drones equipped with AEDs. In our publication in JAMA in 2017 on drones to save lives in OHCA, the methodology have shown great potential. GIS-models, technology and collaborations are now ready. Aim

The aim of this project is to test the feasibility and additional effect of delivering an AED using a drone to the location of an OHCA. Workplan

Pilotstudy :This study aims at testing automated AED-drones already developed with Everdrone AB and SOS alarm AB. Drones are fully operational and today integrated with dispatch center. Ethical approval is granted and aviation authorities approval expected in April. Dispatch will be made for real cardiac arrest patients in n=3 service areas in Göteborg, May- September 2020 for some 30 OHCA Primary endpoint: Feasibility.

Main study: We further aim at dispatching totally n=9 automated AED-drones in Göteborg (SWE) Copenhagen (DK) and on Åland (FIN) during 10 months 2021-2022 for some 250 cases of suspected OHCA to test the additional effect of attached AEDs prior to ambulance arrival. Primary outcome: Proportion of attached AEDs prior the arrival of EMS.

Implications

This novel project has the potential to change future practice for the treatment of OHCA patients and serve as a complement to traditional EMS services for the delivery of AEDs in the early stages of an OHCA.

The generalizability of this project to other areas of health care seems obvious as several drugs, medical products such as adrenaline may be delivered to specific groups in designated areas. We present a methodology for improving care generally using the OHCA case as model.