The Role of Automated External Defibrillators in Athletics

Context: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of automated external defibrillators and emergency planning for sudden cardiac arrest in the athletic setting. Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies on automated external defibrillators, early defibrillation, and public-access defibrillation programs were reviewed. Recommendations from consensus guidelines and position statements applicable to automated external defibrillators in athletics were also considered. Results: Early defibrillation programs involving access to automated external defibrillators by targeted local responders have demonstrated a survival benefit for sudden cardiac arrest in many public and athletic settings. Conclusion: Schools and organizations sponsoring athletic programs should implement automated external defibrillators as part of a comprehensive emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest. In a collapsed and unresponsive athlete, sudden cardiac arrest should be suspected and an automated external defibrillator applied as soon as possible, as decreasing the time interval to defibrillation is the most important priority to improve survival in sudden cardiac arrest.