Abstract

Background: The Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) is a gas-driven mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation device. If oxygen is used as the driving gas in a confined environment, there is a potential fire hazard. 24% oxygen is considered the threshold for increased risk.

Objective and methods: Three trials were conducted using different cabin ventilation settings to determine the rise in oxygen concentration in an MD902 helicopter during use of the LUCAS.

Results: The oxygen concentration rose rapidly with the aircraft at rest, but during flight, using realistic cabin ventilation settings and durations of use, the oxygen concentration failed to reach 24%.

Conclusion: The LUCAS is safe for normal-duration flights in an MD902 helicopter. It is potentially unsafe in a static MD902 and, by extrapolation, in other static aircraft of similar or smaller size such as the EC135 or Bolkow 105.