PARAMEDIC TRIAL

Registrations

• ISRCTN 08233942
• Ethical approval: England/Wales (09/H1210/69); Scotland (09/MRE00/41)
• UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio 8253

• In adult patients sustaining an out of hospital cardiac arrest (P) does the use of LUCAS-2 mechanical chest compression device (I) compared to standard CPR (C) improve 30 day survival (O)

• Cluster randomised controlled trial
• Vehicles that are in service at participating ambulance stations and may attend eligible patients will be included in the trial and randomised to one of the trial arms, in approximately 2:1 (control : LUCAS) ratio, before the start of recruitment

• Cardiac arrest in the out of hospital environment on arrival of a trial vehicle
• Resuscitation attempt is initiated by the attending paramedic, according to JRCALC guidelines
• The patient is believed to be aged 18 years or over

• Traumatic cardiac arrest
• Known or clinically apparent pregnancy

• Survival at 30 days after enrolment

• Survived event (return of spontaneous circulation at point of handover to hospital staff) and survival at 12 months
• Health related quality of life at 3 and 12 months
• Neurological outcome at 3 months (CPC)
• Neurological outcome at 12 months (MMSE; PTSD; HAD)
• Length of stay (hospital and ITU)
• Safety
• Economic evaluation

• 4400 participants

• 3 (West Midlands Ambulance, Scottish Ambulance, Welsh Ambulance)

• NIHR HTA Programme (HTA 07/37/69)

• Dr Gavin Perkins and Dr Simon Gates, University of Warwick

• University of Warwick (Dr Peter Hedges)