Mr Curtis Cooper1,2, Ms Jenna Denley2,3, Ms Ayla Kidd2, Mr Paul Grant2, Ms Jacqueline Hennessy1,2, Associate Professor Oyelola Adegboye4, Dr David Monks1,5,6, Dr Julian Wilcocks1,5
1St John Australia Northern Territory, Winnellie, Australia, 2Charles Darwin University, Casuarina , Australia, 3Ambulance Tasmania, Burnie, Australia, 4Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia, 5Northern Territory Department of Health, Casuarina, Australia, 6CareFlight, Eaton, Australia
Biography:
Biography to come
Abstract:
Introduction: This study described demographics, arrest characteristics, paramedic interventions, time intervals and early outcomes for out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) events attended by St John Northern Territory (NT) paramedics in 2025 and compared outcomes between mechanical and manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Methods: This retrospective observational study analysed all OHCA events attended by St John NT paramedics in 2025. Data were extracted from the St John NT electronic patient care records (ePCR). Descriptive statistics summarised clinical characteristics and outcomes. Group differences were assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi‑squared or Kruskal‑Wallis tests. Kaplan-Meier curves evaluated time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and event survival by CPR type.
Results: A total of 236 OHCA events were included. The median age was 56.5 years, with 61% male. Most arrests occurred in residential settings, and 58% received bystander CPR. Non-shockable rhythms were present in 90% of cases. Paramedics attempted resuscitation in 61% of events, and mechanical CPR was used in 25%. ROSC occurred in 19.5% of patients, with 19.1% surviving the event. Mechanical CPR was more common in unwitnessed arrests, those without bystander CPR and non-shockable rhythms. No significant differences were observed between CPR types for ROSC or event survival.
Conclusions: OHCA in the NT was characterised by high rates of unwitnessed arrests, non‑shockable rhythms and low early survival. Mechanical CPR appeared to be used in more challenging scenarios. Findings emphasise the influence of bystander response, arrest location and initial rhythm on outcomes and system improvement.