Application and challenges of telephone‐assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with unmanned aerial vehicle‐mounted automated external defibrillator in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest

Abstract Background Out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Telephone‐assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (TCPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) improve survival, but traditional emergency systems face delays due to traffic and geography. Objectives This narrative review examined the current application, technical challenges, and future potential of combining TCPR with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)‐mounted AED systems in OHCA. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus up to March 2025 using terms including “telephone CPR,” “TCPR,” “unmanned aerial vehicle,” “drone,” “AED,” “out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest,” and “emergency response.” Inclusion criteria: English or Chinese peer‐reviewed studies on TCPR, UAV‐AED, or their integration in OHCA. Exclusion criteria: conference abstracts, editorials, and studies without original data or clear methodology. Results Evidence from simulation and feasibility studies suggests that UAV‐AED systems reduce AED delivery time compared with emergency medical services. TCPR increases bystander CPR rates and quality. However, direct clinical outcome data on survival improvement from integrated systems remain limited. Key challenges include UAV endurance, regulatory barriers, public acceptance, and integration with existing emergency systems. Conclusions TCPR combined with UAV‐AED has potential to improve OHCA response, but evidence is largely from simulation and feasibility studies. Future research should focus on real‐world outcome evaluation, cost‐effectiveness, and system integration.