The Prognosis of Patients who Received Automated External Defibrillator Treatment in Hospital

Introduction: Unlike cardiac arrest occurring out-of-hospital, the safety and efficacy of automated external defibrillators (AED) in the hospital has not been assessed. This study examined the conditions of AED use in hospital and the prognosis of these patients. Methods and Results: We examined the condition and prognosis of 32 patients who were given AED treatment while they were in an unconscious state in the hospital, between May 2004 and January 2007. During this period, AED was used only for patients, not for visitors or hospital personnel. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) was observed in 7 patients, and in the other 25 the initial rhythm of the patients did not require AED. Two patients survived with the help of AED, but it did not deliver shock in two patients with VF and VT. There was no significant difference in vital prognosis due to the presence or absence of shock delivery in the VF or VT patients. Conclusion: The situation of AED use may be different whether it is used in hospital or outof-hospital. This study suggests that using AED in the hospital may have limited effect when it is used for critically ill patients.