What are the odds of getting a shockable rythm based solely off of movement from the ambulance? I am wondering if there is credible data (some numbers) to the chances of getting a shock-able rhythm from the AED based off of ambulance moving. I am just wondering because I know the filters in the AED are sensitive and I would think would have to be very capable.
They were not using an AED. The monitor the paramedics have has a defibrillator, which means the paramedics will analyze the rhythm on their own and then determine whether or not to shock. In my experience of defibrillating in a moving vehicle, it is very easy to determine whether or not the patient is in a shockable rhythm. It is true that movement can cause artifact, but not enough for the medic to think it's V fib or V tach instead of asystole. Lifepak 12s generally have less artifact than the Zoll that I use, and even Zoll isn't that bad.
You'll get artifact moreso from the patient moving or poor lead placement than the movement of the ambulance. 12-leads require the patient to be quite still, and I personally try to get one before we start moving. But in a cardiac arrest, you will not be doing a 12 lead (unless you obtain a sustained ROSC and have time to do one). And a regular 3 lead doesn't get much artifact from ambulance movement.
