10 Sept 2024 • What is the optimal initial defibrillator pad placement (anterior-posterior [AP] or anterior-lateral [AL]) for patients presenting with shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)?

In a recent JAMA study of 255 patients experiencing shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), defibrillator pads positioned anterior-posterior (AP) significantly outperformed anterior-lateral (AL) placements.

• Patients with AP pad placement had 2.64 times greater odds of achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) compared to those with AL placement.
• While survival rates and functional outcomes showed no significant differences between the two placements, the AP position demonstrated a superior cumulative incidence of ROSC.

Clinicians should not assume equivalency of initial defibrillator pad positioning for patients with OHCA presenting with a shockable rhythm.

Source: JAMA | Read full story