A University of Iowa study into new techniques for treating cardiac arrest patients includes equipping emergency responders a new device designed to increase blood flow to the heart during CPR. Heart specialist, Dr. Richard Kerber, says the study involves the treatment of people before the get to the hospital. He says they’re interested in improving the treatment of people who have a sudden stoppage of the heart outside the hospital.
Kerber says responders from the state’s eight metropolitan areas get the devices. Kerber says half the devices are active and half the devices are inactive, but they look alike so the rescuers can’t tell and they won’t be biased. Kerber says they won’t know until the study is complete how well the devices worked.
Kerber says at the end of the study the code numbers on the devices will be broken and they can determine if the patients who got the active devices did better in their recovery. Part of the study includes researchers holding meetings across the state notifying communities of the CPR changes. Residents who choose to opt out of the study must receive a wallet card or wrist band from the U-I.