Automatic CPR device saves life of woman who was clinically dead for 42 minutes

[haikuman]

Pretty amazing methinks . . .

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-19/au...ea/4896722

Updated Mon 19 Aug 2013, 7:40pm AEST


A woman who was clinically dead for 42 minutes is preparing to leave a Melbourne hospital after being treated with a lifesaving piece of equipment that performs CPR.

Vanessa Tanasio, 41, started feeling chest pains at her Narre Warren home last Monday morning. Her mother called 000 and an ambulance arrived soon after.

One of Ms Tanasio's main coronary arteries was completely blocked, and she needed numerous defibrillator shocks, including one in the ambulance on the way to the Monash Medical Centre.

When she arrived she was conscious but soon went into full cardiac arrest.


They say they were able to save her life using a piece of equipment known as the Lucas 2 External Compression Device.

The $15,000 device automatically performs CPR, or chest compressions, to maintain the circulation of oxygen to the heart and brain.

CPR is a physically demanding task that involves physical force to compress the chest, which limits the amount of time it can be used.

While the Lucas device was pumping Ms Tanasio's chest, doctors opened an artery and inserted a stent to allow the blood to flow again.

[Lemon Drop]

cool

slightly OT< but my younger son had an internship this summer at Physio Control in Redmond, the company that makes these devices

very cool company

[Grateful11]

Didn't know they existed. That is a great story with a great ending.

[Speedy]

Very cool for you son! And not at all OT.

Lemon Drop wrote:
cool

slightly OT< but my younger son had an internship this summer at Physio Control in Redmond, the company that makes these devices

very cool company

[cbelt3]

That's amazing. Sounds like a mechanical Iron Lung concept, but with the chest compressions. Of course the survivor usuall ends up with a flailed chest, but it's better than being dead. You can heal cracked ribs and sternum. You can't heal dead.