Real-world tests have shown that using drones to deliver defibrillators may help save lives

Drones may prove to be a more convenient way to transport many items, but some research projects have shown that using drones to drop defibrillators at heart disease patients may help save lives. A new study from a Swedish research team has now deployed the technology for the first time in a real-world scenario. On average, drones arrive at the scene earlier than ambulance crews and safely tow medical equipment.

When a person suffers cardiac arrest, brain death and death can occur in just a few minutes, so those who experience it outside the hospital have little chance of survival. Timely treatment involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators (ED) can greatly increase the odds of survival, so every second counts when it comes to getting the device to the field.

In 2017, scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden conducted a simulation exercise on Defikopter, showing how these types of drones could deliver defibrillators four times faster than ambulances. The latest study was also provided by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, but relates to real-life cardiac arrest events.

Lead researcher Andreas Claesson said: "This is the first time in the world that a research team has been able to report the results of a drone flying a defibrillator to a real alert site for suspected cardiac arrest. ”

The pilot project, which involves emergency service operators, drone pilots and air traffic control, was used in four months last year to deliver defibrillators to locations where patients with cardiac arrest occur. Of the 53 alerts for suspected cardiac arrest, 12 were deployed, and 11 of them were successfully delivered. The drones traveled an average of 3.1 kilometers (2 miles), and seven drones arrived before the ambulance arrived, with a time difference of 1 minute and 52 seconds. However, none of them were used before the ambulance arrived.

Study first author Sofia Schierbeck said: "Even if AED is not used this time, our research shows that in real-life emergencies, it is possible to use drones to transport defibrillators in a safe manner and with target precision. One prerequisite for their future use is that dispatchers take the initiative and instruct people on site to quickly collect and install AEDs to help people with cardiac arrest. ”

The study has some limiting factors that narrow down the range of drones that can be deployed. The planes are unable to fly in the dark, rain or strong winds and are set to avoid flying over densely populated areas, meaning they cannot take on some of the delivery tasks. The team is working to expand the technology's capabilities so that it can cope with more cardiac arrest events and reach the scene faster.

"Since this study was completed, we've identified several areas for improvement," Claesson said. "In April this year, we started a follow-up study to adopt a more optimized system. In the study, we wanted to test whether we could use drones in more alerts and further reduce reaction time, thereby increasing time efficiency compared to ambulances. In the early stages, every minute without treatment reduces the chances of survival by about 10%, which is why we believe this new delivery method has the potential to save lives. ”

The study was published in the European Heart Journal.