In a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, the efficacy of using drones equipped with automated external defibrillators (AED) to assist patients during suspected cardiac arrests was evaluated. The study, published in The Lancet Digital Health, revealed that in over half of the cases, these drones arrived at the scene an average of three minutes before ambulances. This timely arrival proved crucial, as in instances of actual cardiac arrest, bystanders frequently used the drone-delivered defibrillator.
For this research, Karolinska Institutet has collaborated with Region Västra Götaland, SOS Alarm, and Everdrone since 2020 to test drone deliveries of automated external defibrillators alongside ambulance dispatches. Covering an area of about 200,000 people in western Sweden, the project confirmed the feasibility and safety of this approach.
In the study, drones successfully delivered automated external defibrillators in 58 cases of suspected cardiac arrest. In situations where both drone and ambulance arrival times were recorded (55 cases), drones delivered automated external defibrillators before ambulances in 37 cases (67%), achieving a median time benefit of 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
The use of drones demonstrated a significant reduction in response time. It led to the practical use of automated external defibrillators in several cases before ambulance arrival, with one case resulting in patient survival. The study’s findings, mainly funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, solidify the potential of drone-delivered automated external defibrillators in improving emergency response outcomes for cardiac arrest patients.
Ref: Schierbeck S, Nord A, Svensson L, 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. Lancet Digit Health. 2023;5(12):e862-e871. doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00161-9
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