Computer simulation of the effectiveness of novel cardiac arrest response systems

AIMS: To use a computer simulation model to predict the response time and survival impact of a sample of novel cardiac arrest response systems, such as those that use cellphone apps to dispatch citizen mobile responders and those that use drones to deliver an AED to the cardiac arrest location. METHODS: We developed a model which applies a Monte Carlo approach to simulate the response time and predicted survival for cardiac arrest events within a specific region. We used the model to compare the performance of 4 different novel response systems, along with simulated EMS performance, in Bellevue, Washington. We estimated the 10 year cost for each system, which was utilized together with the system performance predictions in a cost-benefit analysis. RESULTS: The best performing systems in the simulation were a mobile responder system capable of providing both CPR and defibrillation, similar to the PulsePoint verified responder program, as well as a drone AED delivery system with bystander application. Both systems showed an incremental improvement in survival of 10% over the simulated EMS survival. The systems that provided the best cost-benefit ratio were the mobile responder system providing only CPR (PulsePoint Respond) and drone systems with bystander application. CONCLUSIONS: Our simulation results suggest that these novel response systems have the potential to substantially improve survival at an efficient cost.