Enhancing pediatric advanced life support: A tool for lifesaving care

3-minute read

The LIFEPAK 35 is designed to support clinical teams when every second counts

Pediatric cardiac arrest is rare, but when it happens, clinicians are on the front lines of care.^1,2 While survival rates for in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrests have improved, there’s still a need to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the hospital.³ The LIFEPAK 35 monitor/defibrillator was designed to support pediatric resuscitation and advanced care, helping clinicians respond with precision in critical moments. By addressing the unique challenges of pediatric resuscitation, the LIFEPAK 35 helps clinicians optimize their clinical strategies.

Enhancing pediatric CPR: Continuous monitoring for effective resuscitation

The LIFEPAK 35 includes cprINSIGHT, a technology designed to analyze a patient’s ECG rhythm during ongoing chest compressions, providing a shock, no-shock decision without interrupting chest compressions. In CPR and resuscitation efforts, minimizing pre-shock pauses is essential—cprINSIGHT has been shown to decrease pre-shock pause time for shockable rhythms and increase overall chest compression fraction (hands-on time).⁴ With a 95.5% sensitivity for detecting shockable rhythms and a 98.2% specificity for identifying non-shockable rhythms,⁴ it can help clinicians make timely, informed decisions. The LIFEPAK 35 aligns with AHA guidelines to reduce pauses in chest compressions,³ supporting more effective resuscitation when every second counts.

Optimizing care with customizable settings for pediatric patients

When entering AED mode, clinicians are prompted with a critical decision point, prompting them to choose between ADULT or PEDIATRIC mode. By putting this choice in the hands of the provider, the LIFEPAK 35 supports more precise, patient-specific resuscitation.

In Pediatric AED mode, the compression-to-ventilation (C:V) metronome ratios automatically adjust to pediatric default settings, streamlining care during pediatric emergencies.

For additional flexibility, clinicians can customize additional C:V ratios, metronome settings, and energy escalation protocols when configuring the device—helping teams align resuscitation efforts with their specific protocols and patient needs.⁵

Pediatric resuscitation: A full defibrillation energy range (1-360 Joules)

The LIFEPAK 35 is designed to give clinicians full control over defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion, offering a complete energy range from 1 Joule to 360 Joules of biphasic shock energy. This range aligns with AHA-recommended weight-based shock energy dosing for pediatric patients, ensuring appropriate treatment for pediatric patients of varying weights.³ Unlike low-energy biphasic defibrillators that max out at 200 Joules, the LIFEPAK 35 accommodates pediatric patients who may require higher shock energies—such as those weighing 36 kg (79 lb), where the recommended energy range is 72 Joules to 360 Joules.

Pediatric cardiac arrest is rare, and shockable rhythms in these cases are also uncommon, so the need to deliver electrical therapy to pediatric patients can be a rare event.¹ To support clinical decision-making, the LIFEPAK 35 includes a post-synchronized cardioversion cognitive stopping point, prompting providers to confirm their next steps and reinforcing patient safety.⁵

Customized monitoring for pediatric and neonate patients

With patient-specific monitoring capabilities, the LIFEPAK 35 automatically adjusts parameters and alarms based on the selected patient type—Pediatric (less than 12 years old) or Neonate (birth to 28 days old). This feature ensures age-appropriate monitoring by modifying alarm thresholds and vital sign parameters to match the unique physiology of younger patients.

Clinicians can also enable individual alarms within each monitoring channel or activate multiple alarms at once using the "All ON" option in the alarms menu.

Glasgow 12/15-lead ECG analysis: Age-specific insights for accurate interpretation

Pediatric ECG interpretation requires a keen understanding of age-based physiological differences and criteria—yet recalling these distinctions in a high-pressure situation can be challenging.

To address this, the LIFEPAK 35 incorporates the Glasgow v30.⁴ interpretative algorithm, which applies age-specific criteria to ECG waveforms, timing intervals, and other key elements. This ensures that pediatric ECGs are analyzed appropriately, helping to prevent misinterpretations that could occur if analyzed using adult criteria. Without this level of specificity, an ECG could be inaccurately categorized, potentially leading to misleading conclusions and treatment decisions.⁶

Bringing precision to neonatal and pediatric resuscitation

Pediatric emergencies require technology that adapts to the unique needs of young patients. With a full defibrillation energy range, patient-specific monitoring, and advanced ECG interpretative algorithms, the LIFEPAK 35 is built to support clinicians in delivering precise, confident care during pediatric resuscitation. When every second counts, having the right tools in place can make all the difference.