Hi all,

I'm a junior student in Biomedical Engineering department institute.
I want to make a research about the defibrillator distribution (Location) in ICU, (Beside each bed?...depending on the area & the beds??) all i found till now is that the study of this made depending on the area of the ICU & the distribution of beds and avarage using of defibrillator, all that plus the location of the trained stuff who operates the defibrillator.
these information without details.
i need any help about this please
Where to search?
what are the available cources about stuff like this?
Is there any free data available

Thanks to all of you.

In the ICU, the defib goes on the crash-cart, simple as that. Not much scope for research there, Abdo, I wouldn’t have thought. Might be more interesting, from a technical standpoint, to review the history of defib technology, and compare with the modern biphasic approach.

However, if you really want to make a name for yourself, may I suggest that you expand your terms of reference and make a study of defibrillator distribution nation-wide. You could, for instance, take UK as your model.

As we know, there are three general applications for defibs. The traditional unit found in operating theatres – usually mains powered, and complete with internal paddles (ie, for direct application to the heart through an opened chest), the crash-cart mounted type with which we are all familiar, and the AED automatic emergency type.

These days, in the UK at least, you will find defibs everywhere outside of the hospital. Dentists have them, primary health care too, you’ll find them of course in ambulance vehicles (and also, soon, in police cars). They’re hanging on the wall in factories, railway stations, public buildings etc. etc. The list is endless. Maybe traffic wardens will be carrying them on their backs any day now. Bear in mind that all this equipment has to be regularly tested, serviced and repaired. Don’t even wonder where the money comes from for all this. Your thesis could apply a similar hypothesis to your own country, arguing the case of cost to the people of Egypt versus the value, in terms of quality-adjusted life-years, of the application of these machines. Come to think of it, perhaps there’s a PhD in there somewhere for me! Good luck, Mate.

Thanks alot Hannis,
these are very good ideas, also thanks for the efort you make all over the forum. I've been exploring the forum and i always find your reply for almost every body.
It's really hard to imagine all that number of defibs you mentioned (the defib cost in egypt is about 10000 US dollars).
anyway, i think i'll learn alot from this forum.
thanks.

Thanks for your kindness, Abdo. We wish you well.

Perhaps British taxpayers are more magnanimous than those in your country. On the other hand, maybe they are simply pre-conditioned, through long experience, to having governments spending their money more wisely than they could possibly have done themselves!

To add to the list of places to find a defib. (AED), these are now carried as standard pieces of emergency equipment on board British Airways and Virgin Atalntic planes.

Does anyone have the figures showing how many lives are saved by all this largesse? It’s just that I’m thinking of marketing a kit of essential medical equipment, able to be carried in a day pack, to be issued together with every British citizen’s ID card when these are introduced. Thought it would make a good incentive to make sure the comrades actually sign up for the scheme. So, I’ll be needing some suggestions about what else (other than defibs and nebulizers, of course) to include. Don’t worry too much about weight, as carrying the kit around will provide some exercise for the quality life being preserved. All part of the plan. By the way, pricing will need to be in Euros, of course!