I, too, have been researching the AP.
I saw the ASPIRE study that was abruptly halted do to preliminary data showing no increase in 4 hour outcomes and a decrease in hospital discharge rates.
However, since then there are at least 3 other studies that indicate dramatically increased patient outcomes - and still FUBAR....nevermind. Here is an article from JEMS (Oct. 2006) that has more info:
http://www.jems.com/news/240393/
More recent studys show that good manual CPR circulates about 30% (at best) of the volume normally pumped by the heart. The AP approaches 100%. Patients pink up. IVs are easier to start. etc.
I agree that it looks violent and is noisy. Any arrest is traumatic for the spectators. Do you think that a person shoving on the center of someone's chest is less disturbing? What about shocking them? shoving a plastic tube down someone's throat? Drilling a hole in someone's leg and jabbing a needle into their bone? Come on!!
My point is that it is a tool, which works well. Like any tool, it has it's specific purpose. You don't use a sledge hammer to drive a finish nail.
