In a study published in The Lancet Digital Health, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have demonstrated the potential of using drones equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to significantly improve response times and survival rates in cases of suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
The study, titled “Drone delivery of automated external defibrillators compared with ambulance arrival in real-life suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: a prospective observational study in Sweden,” sheds light on the transformative impact of integrating drone technology into emergency medical services. Cardiac arrests claim thousands of lives annually, with a mere fraction of affected individuals surviving the critical event.
Recognizing the pivotal role of AEDs in saving lives, the research team, in collaboration with Region Västra Götaland, SOS Alarm, and drone operator Everdrone, embarked on a mission to assess the feasibility of deploying drones alongside traditional ambulance services. Their initiative aimed to bridge the critical gap between the onset of cardiac arrest and the availability of life-saving interventions, particularly in locations where AEDs are not readily accessible, such as people’s homes.Â
Andreas Claesson, Associate Professor at the Center for Cardiac Arrest Research at the Department of Clinical Research and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, and principal investigator of the study, emphasizes the significance of AEDs in saving lives. He notes that the deployment of drones equipped with AEDs since the summer of 2020 has proven instrumental in achieving a crucial time advantage over traditional ambulance services.Â
The study covered an extensive area encompassing approximately 200,000 people in western Sweden. Initial trials in 2020, conducted in Gothenburg and Kungälv, demonstrated the feasibility and safety of the drone-based intervention. Building on this foundation, the researchers conducted a more comprehensive follow-up study, which revealed the method’s efficacy year-round, including during both daytime and nighttime conditions.Â
Sofia Schierbeck, a Ph.D. student at the same department and the first author of the study, underscores the success of the methodology, emphasizing that drones consistently delivered AEDs before ambulance arrival. The drones managed to reach the scene in 55 cases of suspected cardiac arrest, outpacing ambulances in 67% of instances with a median lead time of three minutes and 14 seconds.
In cases where the cardiac arrest was confirmed, callers successfully utilized the AED in six instances, resulting in a 33% success rate. Notably, a shock was recommended in two cases, and one patient ultimately survived. The study unequivocally establishes that delivering AEDs via drones is not only feasible but can significantly reduce response times in acute cardiac arrest situations.
Claesson highlights the time saved as a critical factor, allowing emergency response centers to guide individuals on-site in using the AED before the ambulance’s arrival. This timely intervention can be a decisive factor in increasing the chances of survival. This pioneering research from Karolinska Institute heralds a new era in emergency medical services.
The successful integration of drones equipped with AEDs into cardiac arrest response strategies has the potential to revolutionize outcomes for individuals in distress, offering a lifeline that arrives faster than ever before. As technology continues to intersect with healthcare, such innovations underscore the power of collaboration between medical institutions, emergency services, and technological partners in creating solutions that directly impact and save lives.Â
Journal Reference Â
Sofia Schierbeck et al, Drone delivery of automated external defibrillators compared with ambulance arrival in real-life suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: a prospective observational study in Sweden, The Lancet Digital Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00161-9. Â
