The American journal of emergency medicine
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Automated external defibrillation (AED) and public access defibrillation (PAD) have become cornerstones in the chain of survival in modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Most studies of AED and PAD have been performed in urban areas, and evidence is scarce for sparsely populated rural areas. The aim of this review was to review the literature and discuss treatment strategies for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in rural areas. ⋯ In rural areas, introducing AED programs and a 2-tier emergency medical system may increase survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. More studies on AED and PAD in rural areas are required.