Advancements in automated external and wearable cardiac defibrillators

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Survival statistics for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remain unsatisfactory. Prompt defibrillation of shockable rhythms, such as ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, is crucial for improving survival. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and wearable cardiac defibrillators (WCDs) seek to improve the survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. We aim to review the indications, utility, advancements, and limitations of AEDs and WCDs, as well as their role in contemporary and future clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advancements in these technologies, such as smartphone applications and drone delivery of AEDs and less inappropriate shocks and decreased size of WCDs, have increased their ubiquity and efficacy. However, implementation of this technology remains limited due to lack of resources and suboptimal patient adherence. SUMMARY: Out of hospital cardiac arrests continue to pose a significant public health challenge. Advancements in AEDs and WCDs aim to facilitate prompt defibrillation of shockable rhythms with the goal of improving survival rates. However, they remain underutilized due to limited resources and suboptimal patient adherence. As these technologies continue to evolve to become smaller, lighter and more affordable, their utilization and accessibility are expected to improve.