Finalist: Health Research Award
The Pre-hospital Extracorporeal Life Support (PRECARE) trial aims to improve survival outcomes for people in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by bringing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment to the patient.
ECMO – a form of heart and lung bypass which provides blood flow and oxygen to the brain, heart and other vital organs – is a machine traditionally only available in hospitals.
The PRECARE trial takes an ECMO machine to the patient out on the road. NSW Ambulance critical care paramedics and specialist pre-hospital critical care doctors work together to treat patients in cardiac arrest on the scene.
Making ECMO mobile aims to increase the survival rate of some patients in cardiac arrest and achieve a good neurological outcome.
Results have shown the survival rate for eligible patients is 33%, which is comparable to in-hospital programs and a vast improvement on the conventional CPR survival of less than 5% for out of hospital cardiac arrest. The trial is also enhancing paramedic skills by offering real-time mentorship and education.
Meet the other finalists for the Health Research Award.
