Advice

Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy

1. Databases were searched from inception to October 2014. The following keywords were used for the searches: AutoPulse; load distributing band‑CPR; LDB‑CPR. The number of citations found is in brackets after each database:

Ovid MEDLINE(R) In‑Process & Other Non‑Indexed Citations and Ovid MEDLINE(R)1946 to Present (47); Embase (via OVID) (169); Cochrane Library (total 12 including: 1 Cochrane review, 9 Trials, and 2 Technology Assessments); CAB Abstracts (0); Web of Science Core Collection (44).

These citations were searched for relevant material, using the inclusion criteria below.

2. ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, and Current Controlled Trials were also searched for ongoing trials.

3. Information provided by the company to support this briefing was checked to identify any further information.

4. The company's website was thoroughly investigated.

Evidence selection

The inclusion criteria were as follows:

  • Patients/settings: adult patients (≥18 years) suffering non‑traumatic cardiac arrest in out‑of‑hospital and in‑hospital settings.

  • Intervention: the AutoPulse (load‑distributing band CPR from Zoll) that provides circumferential thoracic compressions.

  • Comparator: manual chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

  • Outcomes: any relevant efficacy and safety clinical outcomes, including but not limited to:

    • survival to hospital discharge with good neurological function (e.g. Rankin scale score ≤3)

    • survival to hospital discharge

    • survival to hospital admission

    • short‑term survival (≤30 days)

    • long‑term survival (>30 days)

    • sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)

    • neurological outcome (e.g. Rankin scale)

    • intervention‑related adverse events/injuries

    • duration of CPR

    • intensity of compression.

  • Study design: for effectiveness any controlled study will be included; for safety aspect of the device, any controlled study, non‑controlled study and case report will be included. Systematic reviews and meta‑analyses will be used for identifying relevant primary studies only.

Only studies fully published in English language were included.