Understanding CPR and the LUCAS CPR machine

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique. CPR is given when an individual has agonal respiration or is not responsive. Time is a vital determinant of the success rate of CPR.

CPR first aid consists of the application of rescue breathing as well as chest compressions. Compressions should be the initial step. If the person is skilled and confident, then mouth to mouth resuscitation can be carried out.

The technique assists in reestablishing the unconstrained flow of blood. CPR improves the chances of survival when it is done on time and appropriately. The process is vital as it helps in averting tissue damage due to a lack of oxygen.

The use of defibrillation is another essential process that should be carried out during an incident of cardiac arrest. It is the action of applying an electric current to restore the normal rhythm of the sino-atrial node.

Traditionally, CPR was conducted by a bystander or emergency response services. However, in recent times, there has been a surge of mechanical compression devices that perform CPR. These devices run almost autonomously as they conduct the life-saving technique. 

The LUCAS CPR device is a mobile tool for conducting chest compressions for an extended period. Its primary function is to help in saving a life during an incident of cardiac arrest. Its name stands for Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assisted System.

The compression is carried out by an automated mechanism that is powered electrically or utilizing air pressure. Statistics indicate that the tool can conduct CPR continuously and at times, can even perform better than a person.

Since the device is somewhat automated, it allows people to deal with other issues during a medical emergency. The chest compression instrument is designed to fit even the most massive human chest cavity.

The tool allows for uninterrupted chest compressions during the movement of the victim to the hospital. It also gives a chance for other life-saving techniques to be conducted— for instance the percutaneous coronary intervention procedure.

The instrument enhances the safety of medical personnel during transport as they don’t have to carry out CPR on the move. The latest form of the device is the LUCAS 3 variant. It is an improvement of its predecessor, the LUCAS 2 instrument.

How the Tool Works

The LUCAS instrument comes in a case that needs to be opened to assemble the contents. It consists of a backplate and the upper compression part. During CPR, the victim is first placed on his or her back.

The victim is lifted gently by the shoulders, and the backplate is then placed underneath them. The patient is then placed on his back, and hand compressions are applied. These compressions are continued before that upper section is introduced.

The upper section of the instrument is then prepared and placed on the chest cavity of the victim. The back and front segments must fit into each other before the device is started. The compression pad must be located directly above the sternum.

These adjustments should be made quickly and carefully to minimize time wastage. If there is a size issue, and the device does not fit, the hand compressions should be initiated immediately.

The control panel is then used to initiate the compressions. These presses can either be continuous or interrupted, depending on the required sequence. Straps are used to secure the person’s neck and limbs to limit movements that may disturb the LUCAS CPR machine.

It is essential to ensure that there is a backup battery on standby in case the one in use runs out. This helps in reducing interruptions in between compressions cycles. Defibrillation can be carried out as the machine runs. However, it is crucial to ensure the wires do not cross paths with the compression pad of the instrument.

The device is normally removed when the victim is considered stable or after they have been transferred to life support machines. The device can be removed when the individual has been deemed to have passed on by a qualified medical practitioner.

The Critical Roles of the LUCAS device

Automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the modern way of preserving life. Like any other technique, it has benefits as well as limitations. For now, let us look at the conveniences that are conferred by the device.

  1. The device allows for high quality CPR Care

This is one of the most obvious reasons why the device is beneficial.  There are a lot of variations and issues that can happen during the application of CPR.

 Different people apply different forces of pressure while giving CPR. This, coupled with situational incidents, may affect the quality of the compressions.

For a caregiver, conducting continuous CPR may be hard. A person is prone to fatigue and may not be unable to continue the resuscitation for an extended time. All these factors may seem trivial, but seconds may make the difference between life and death.