Lay rescuer use of automated external defibrillators in infants, children and adolescents: A systematic review

Abstract

Importance: Automated external defibrillator (AED) use is increasing, but use in children is uncommon. A growing literature of use in children by lay rescuers warrants review.

Objective: A systematic review of AED effectiveness in children experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Data sources: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials.

Study selection: Children, ages 0-18, experiencing OHCA with an AED applied by a lay rescuer. Control population: children with no AED application.

Data extraction and synthesis: Results are reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Two authors independently reviewed all titles and abstracts of references identified by the search strategy, then generated a subset which all authors reviewed.

Main outcomes and measures: Critical outcomes were survival with Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 1-2 at hospital discharge or 30 days and survival to hospital discharge.

Results: Population: age categories: <1 year, 1-12 years, 13-18 years. Lay rescuer AED application resulted in improved survival with CPC 1-2 at hospital discharge or 30 days to hospital discharge in age groups 1-12 and 13-18 years (RR 3.84 [95 % CI 2.69-5.5], RR 3.75 [95 %CI 2.97-4.72]), respectively and hospital discharge in both groups(RR 3.04 [95 % CI 2.18-4.25], RR 3.38 [95 % CI 2.17-4.16]), respectively. AED use with CPR improved CPC 1-2 at hospital discharge and hospital discharge (RR 1.49 [95 % CI 1.11-1.97], RR 1.55[1.12-2.12]).

Conclusions: AED application by lay rescuers is associated with improved survival with a CPC of 1-2 at 30 days, and improved survival to hospital discharge for children 1-18 years. There are limited data for children < 1 year.

Keywords: Adolescent; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Children; Defibrillation; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Public access defibrillation.

Fig. 1

PRISMA diagram for study selection.