By KATHY HAGEMAN
Dickinson County Public Information officer
Dickinson County EMS has a new tool in its arsenal which can significantly increase the odds of survival for an individual experiencing a cardiac arrest.
LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) is a mechanical chest compression device that delivers high quality, consistent chest compressions to patients having a cardiac arrest.
Staff with Dickinson County EMS conducted a simulation during the Thursday, April 14 Dickinson County Commission meeting, showing commissioners, department heads and others attending how the system works.
LUCAS allows life-saving chest compressions to begin onsite, whether that be in the patient’s home or elsewhere.
“If somebody goes into cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, there’s about a two percent chance of survivability,” explained John Hultgren, Dickinson County EMS/Health Department director. “We do what we can to increase those odds.
“So far, during the first quarter of this year, we worked 12 cardiac arrests in our county,” Hultgren added. “Just this month, that number is up to 16.”
Of those 16, responding EMS members were able to regain a pulse on four of the individuals before the ambulance left the residence, he said.
“That’s a 25 percent survivability rate on cardiac arrest,” Hultgren said. “That’s really high.”
Dickinson County received the LUCAS device through grant money provided by a SPARK grant (Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas), awarded during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Captain Eric Wicks, a 14-year veteran of Dickinson County EMS and the education officer, said the LUCAS device is superior to a human when it comes to doing chest compressions. Chest compressions mimic how the heart pumps and keeps blood flowing throughout the body.
When using the LUCAS system, each EMS responding to a cardiac arrest call fills a position that has its own unique responsibilities.
Since Dickinson County has limited resources with limited numbers of personnel, Wicks said a procedure was developed where each responding EMS worker fills a position with its own responsibilities.
For instance, the Position 1 person manually starts chest compressions and tests for a pulse, performing groups of 20 compressions, 11 times.
Position 2 is the code commander, which requires the highest level of certification.
Position 3 is the airway position, the person who manages and secures oxygen for the patient.
Position 4 applies the LUCAS mechanical compression device to the patient.
Position 5 is a bonus position, usually filed by a supervisor if one is available. That person delegates out tasks and serves as a liaison with the family, explaining what is going on and answering questions.
“While everyone else is doing the same repetitive motion,” Wicks said.
What LUCAS does
Once the Lucas device is placed on the patient’s chest one can hear the thumping sound of the machine doing mechanical compressions.
“It’s superior to a human. It doesn’t get tired,” Wicks said. “A human gets tired and when that happens they don’t compress as deep or as hard.”
The Lucas device has a 25 percent yield of oxygen return of spontaneous circulation, “which is over double the national average,” Wicks said.
Both Wicks and Hultgren noted that whether or not the LUCAS system can be used on a call depends on the number of EMS staff or first responders who respond.
All Abilene Fire Department personnel have been trained on use of the LUCAS system. Abilene Fire responds along with ambulance crews to calls in the city of Abilene. Outside Abilene, first responders are in the process of being trained on the system.
“There might just be two EMS people (one crew) available. If there’s just two we go back to the old way. If there’s three, four or five it changes how efficient it is,” Wicks said. “It is imperative we get as many hands as we can.”
The LUCAS device cannot be used on everyone. Some patients may be to large or to small.
Abilene physician Dr. Brian Holmes attended the demonstration and said the LUCAS device is effective, but it can be tough on the body, damaging the skin and other things.
“But at least your alive,” Holmes said. “Effective CPR is the trick. The machine can go all day.”
Holmes said Dickinson County is “pretty lucky” to have the tools and EMS squad it has.
“The upgrades we’ve seen in our equipment is crucial. With some of the crazy transfers we’ve had recently having the right equipment is the key,” Holmes said.