Tri-Community South EMS recently participated in a clinical trial comparing mechanical chest compressions using the AutoPulse to standard manual chest compressions in resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients.
The ASPIRE trial (AutoPulse Assisted Pre-hospital International Resuscitation), which was sponsored in Pittsburgh by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, involved five centers in the United States and Canada.
The AutoPulse is a battery-powered device that performs mechanical chest compressions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as an alternative to the standard manual chest compressions. It is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adult patients in cardiac arrest, and is in regular use by several EMS agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
Animal and human test data suggested that mechanical chest compressions rendered using the AutoPulse provided better blood flow to the brain and heart than high quality manual chest compressions administered by well-trained individuals. The hypothesis for the ASPIRE trial was that the use of the AutoPulse in patients suffering cardiac arrest might improve patient survival by providing more effective CPR.
All patients with non-traumatic cardiac arrest were eligible for enrollment. The survival rate of the patients was then evaluated at four hours following the 9-1-1 call.
There were five centers participating in the ASPIRE trial - three in the United States (Seattle, Washington; Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh) and two in Canadia (Vancouver and Toronto). The Coordinating Center was at the University of Washington, in Seattle.
Both emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics were included as providers. In the Pittsburgh area, the EMS agencies which participated in the study were Tri-Community South EMS, Baldwin EMS, Eastern Area Pre-Hospital Services, McKeesport EMS, Medical Rescue Team South Authority, Northwest EMS, and Ross-West View EMS Authority.
The study had been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Pittsburgh. Because patients in cardiac arrest are unconscious and unable to give their consent to participate in this research, the Pittsburgh IRB ensured that notification and consent procedures protected the rights of all patients. In each area where the study was being conducted, public disclosure was made.
Dr. Vince Mosesso, the lead investigator at UPMC and a resident of Upper St. Clair, presented the details of the study at the USC Commissioners Meeting on August 2, 2004.