Safety of mechanical chest compression devices in cardiac arrest: a randomised virtopsy study with the Lucas®

INTERVENTION: Investigational treatment: chest compressions with Lucas® device Control treatment: manual chest compressions with audio‐visual feedback from displacement sternum transducer The possible damage will be assessed by blinded investigators from the post‐mortem CT scan, the autopsy if available or the clinical course of (initial) survivors, if no clinically indicated CT scan is available. The seriousness of the complications observed will be distinguished in three levels of severity: life‐threatening, consequential or insignificant. The damage will also be classified as related to cause of arrest or CPR related or uncertain. Patients are followed‐up until discharge or death in‐hospital. CONDITION: Circulatory arrest ; Circulatory System ; Cardiac arrest PRIMARY OUTCOME: CPR‐related severe damage, defined as severe, life‐threatening damage to a visceral organ in the chest or abdomen, but also including large vessels and vertebrae. Damage will be classified as primary endpoint by the data and safety committee, based on the available information, including (post‐mortem) CT scans, autopsy, if performed, and clinical information in (initial) survivors. ; ; Assessment will be done after in‐hospital death or at hospital discharge. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Damage to bony structures of the chest wall (sternum and ribs). Assessment will be done after in‐hospital death or at hospital discharge. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients (aged 18 years or older, either sex) are included in the study when in circulatory arrest, requiring full cardio‐pulmonary resuscitation, which is ongoing when the resuscitation team arrives with the study device.