Online CPR Certification Blog
FDA says ResQCPR is Safe for Cardiac Arrest Patients
Date: August 5th, 2016
This is a new system to be used to help re-start the hearts of patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest. The system is made up of two devices that are used simultaneously by rescue personnel.
ResQPump Active Compression Decompression CPR Device
The first part of the system is a device that attaches to the chest of the patient. This device allows the first responder to perform chest compressions easier. The little device has two handles and when the responder pushes down on the device, it compresses the chest and when they lift up on the handles, the chest is decompressed. The device was designed to make chest compression easier, and to leave the patient with fewer traumas due to the chest compression. This device is called “the ResQPump Active Compression/Decompression Device”.
ResQPod 16.1 Impedance Threshold Device
The second device that works as part of the ResQCPR system fits perfectly onto the face mask that the patient will have placed over their mouth and nose. This device can also be fitted onto a breathing tube if one has been established to open the airway. When the first responder is pushing down on the compression/decompression device the ResQPod will stop air from flowing into the chest. This action will reduce the amount of pressure the patient has in their chest. It can also allow more blood to be drawn back into the heart of the patient.
The Need for the System
According to the CDC, there are approximately 300,000 Americans, who have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital conditions each year. When the first responders are called to aid the people who suffer these heart attacks, they often find that the patient’s heart has stopped beating. The first responders must compress the chest of the patient and do mouth to mouth resuscitation on the patient to keep the blood flowing through the patient’s heart, and keep oxygen flowing to the patient until the heart of the patient can be restarted by techniques like defibrillation. The new system will allow the first responders to do their jobs easier, and to save more lives in the process.
FDA Approval
Before approving the ResQCPR System the FDA reviewed the results of tests performed on 1655 cardiac arrest patients. 842 were revived using the new system, and 813 were revived using standard CPR. Out of the 1655 patients, more of the one that were revived with the ResQCPR system survived the event than people who had traditional CPR.
The drawbacks of using the ResQCPR System are basically the same ones that people experience when they have had traditional CPR performed.