October 20, 2014 - Dutch RAV Gelderland-Midden Adopts ZOLL AutoPulse Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump

 

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Diane Egan
ZOLL Medical Corporation
+1 (978) 421-9637
[email protected]

DUTCH RAV GELDERLAND-MIDDEN ADOPTS
ZOLL AUTOPULSE
NON-INVASIVE CARDIAC SUPPORT PUMP


October 20, 2014—CHELMSFORD, MASS.— ZOLL® Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that RAV Gelderland-Midden in the Netherlands has equipped its fleet of 20 ambulances with the ZOLL AutoPulse® Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump.

During the first three weeks of implementation, RAV Gelderland-Midden treated 20 patients for sudden cardiac arrest, with 15 of them experiencing return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) thanks to the consistent, high-quality chest compressions the AutoPulse delivered.

According to Arjan de Kreek, the nurse practitioner of emergency medical care who headed the project, RAV Gelderland-Midden studied all the clinical literature on mechanical CPR devices and found that only the AutoPulse has shown to have clinical benefits in comparative human trials.1 This heavily influenced their decision to buy the AutoPulse.

“RAV Gelderland-Midden works in close harmony with surrounding hospitals in cities such as Arnhem, Nijmegen, and Ede. All of our counterparts use the AutoPulse,” de Kreek explained. “The AutoPulse in this region is used by first responders, ambulances, emergency departments, and cath labs.”

De Kreek developed a training video on the AutoPulse that is used by all paramedics and the fire department. The video, along with hands-on training and the e-learning module ZOLL provides, instructs emergency personnel on how to use the device.

“It’s crucial people understand this innovative tool that will help us to save more lives than we did before,” de Kreek said.

For RAV Gelderland-Midden, the flat design of the AutoPulse makes it possible to store the units aboard the agency’s Sprinter rescue vehicles in an ergonomic way. Within no time, paramedics can carry the AutoPulse as a backpack and rush to the patient’s side.

Paramedic Bianca van der Sluijs said, “From my first code with the AutoPulse, I found that installation was easy and extrication was done rapidly.”

“In addition to rapid deployment with the AutoPulse, running a code with just two paramedics would not be a problem, since the device gives compressions, allowing the rescuers to take care of other interventions,” said paramedic Roy Rosmulder.

The AutoPulse is the only mechanical CPR system to have shown improved outcomes in comparative clinical trials. In a meta-analysis of 12 comparative clinical trials, the AutoPulse improved the odds of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) by 62% compared to manual CPR1. The CIRC trial, the largest prospective, randomized trial of mechanical chest compression ever completed, confirmed that the AutoPulse is equivalent to high-quality manual CPR for survival to hospital discharge2.

About RAV Gelderland-Midden

RAV Gelderland Midden is based in the city of Arnhem, the capital of the Gelderland Province. The EMS service is responsible for emergency calls in 16 communities and serves a population of 650,000 in a coverage area of 1181 km2 (455 sq. mi.) With a workforce of 160 employees, RAV Gelderland Midden responds to 35.000 calls a year and annually reports around 300 resuscitations.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation

ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, fluid resuscitation, and therapeutic temperature management, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and acute critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the chemicals and fibers, homes and construction materials, electronics, and health care business sectors. Its health care operations include devices and systems for acute critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and nutritional products. With more than 29,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/.

Copyright © 2014 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. AutoPulse and ZOLL are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Asahi Kasei is a registered trademark of Asahi Kasei Corporation. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

1Wesfall M, et al. Mechanical Vs. Manual Chest Compressions in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Med. 2013 Jul;41(7):17829. 
2Wik L, et al. Manual vs. Integrated Automatic Load-distributing Band CPR with Equal Survival after Out- of- Hospital Cardiac Arrest. The Randomized CIRC Trial. Resuscitation 85 (2014) 741–748.