The LA story: What happened after a new policy allowing paramedics to forgo resuscitation attempts in prehospital cardiac arrest

Background

Despite potential harm to patients, families, and emergency personnel, a low survival rate, and high costs and intensity of care, attempting resuscitation after prehospital cardiac arrest is the norm, unless there are signs of irreversible death or the presence of a valid, state-issued DNR.

Objective

To determine whether there was a change in the rate of forgoing resuscitation attempts in prehospital cardiac arrest after implementation of a new policy allowing paramedics to forgo resuscitation based on a verbal family request or the presence of certain arrest characteristics.

Methods and results

All prehospital run sheets for cardiac arrest in Los Angeles County were reviewed for the first seven days of each month August 2006-January 2007 (pre-policy) and January-June 2008 (post-policy). Paramedics were more likely to forgo resuscitation attempts after the policy change (13.3% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.01). In addition, the percentage of patients with documented signs of irreversible death decreased post-policy, from 50.4% to 35.8%, p < 0.01. After adjustment for potential confounders (patient demographics, clinical characteristics and EMS factors), as well as exclusion of patients with signs of irreversible death, paramedics are significantly more likely to forgo a resuscitation, and less likely to attempt resuscitation, after the policy change (OR 1.67 [95% CI 1.07, 2.61], p = 0.024).

Conclusions

Paramedics are more likely to forgo, and less likely to attempt, resuscitation in victims of cardiac arrest after implementation of a new policy. There was also an associated decrease in the percentage of patients who had signs of irreversible death, which might reflect a change in paramedic behavior.     

CPR variability during ground ambulance transport of patients in cardiac arrest

Aim of study

High-quality CPR is associated with improved outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The purpose of this investigation was to compare the quality of CPR provided at the prehospital scene, during ambulance transport, and during the early minutes in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

A prospective observational review of consecutive adult patients with non-traumatic OHCA was conducted between September 2008 and February 2010. Patients with initiation of prehospital CPR were included as part of a statewide cardiac resuscitation quality improvement program. A monitor-defibrillator with accelerometer-based CPR measurement capability (E-series, ZOLL Medical) was utilized. CPR quality measures included variability in chest compression (CC) depth and rate, mean depth and rate, and the CC fraction. Variability of CC was defined as the mean of minute-to-minute standard deviation in CC depth or rate. CC fraction was defined as the percent of time that CPR was being performed when appropriate throughout resuscitation.

Results

Fifty-seven adult patients with OHCA had electronic CPR data recorded at the scene, in the ambulance, and upon arrival in the ED. Across time periods, there was increased variability in CC depth (scene: 0.20 in.; transport: 0.26 in.; ED: 0.31 in., P < 0.01) and rate (scene: 18.2 CC min⁻¹; transport: 26.1 CC min⁻¹; ED: 26.3 CC min⁻¹, P < 0.01). The mean CC depth, rate, and the CC fraction did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions

There was increased CC variability from the prehospital scene to the ED though there was no difference in mean CC depth, rate, or in CC fraction. The clinical significance of CC variability remains to be determined.     

Mobile phone technology identifies and recruits trained citizens to perform CPR on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims prior to ambulance arrival

Aim

In a two-parted study, evaluate a new concept were mobile phone technology is used to dispatch lay responders to nearby out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs).

Methods

Mobile phone positioning systems (MPS) can geographically locate selected mobile phone users at any given moment. A mobile phone service using MPS was developed and named Mobile Life Saver (MLS). Simulation study: 25 volunteers named mobile responders (MRs) were connected to MLS. Ambulance time intervals from 22 consecutive OHCAs in 2005 were used as controls. The MRs randomly moved in Stockholm city centre and were dispatched to simulated OHCAs (identical to controls) if they were within a 350 m distance. Real life study: during 25 weeks 1271-1801 MRs trained in CPR were connected to MLS. MLS was activated at the dispatch centre in parallel with ambulance dispatch when an OHCA was suspected. The MRs were dispatched if they were within 500 m from the suspected OHCA.

Results

Simulation study: mean response time for the MRs compared to historical ambulance time intervals was reduced by 2 min 20 s (44%), p < 0.001, (95% CI, 1 min 5 s - 3 min 35 s). The MRs reached the simulated OHCA prior to the historical control in 72% of cases. Real life study: the MLS was triggered 92 times. In 45% of all suspected and in 56% of all true OHCAs the MRs arrived prior to ambulance. CPR was performed by MRs in 17% of all true OHCAs and in 30% of all true OHCAs if MRs arrived prior to ambulance.

Conclusion

Mobile phone technology can be used to identify and recruit nearby CPR-trained citizens to OHCAs for bystander CPR prior to ambulance arrival.     

Chest compressions by ambulance personnel on chests with variable stiffness: abilities and attitudes

INTRODUCTION: Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by professionals is reported to be substandard even with automated corrective feedback. We hypothesised that lack of quality is not due to physical capabilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty ambulance personnel from the same services where the quality of clinical CPR was investigated, performed two-rescuer CPR with similar corrective feedback for 5min on each of four manikins with different chest stiffness. The personnel also scored their agreement with statements on clinical CPR performance. RESULTS: All study subjects performed CPR well within Guidelines recommendations on all four manikins with mean compression depth 44+/-3mm, compression rate 101+/-3min(-1), and 7+/-2 ventilations per minute. Three quarters stated that during CPR on patients their personal sense of correct depth and force determined their performance. Fifty-five percent believed that too deep chest compressions could cause serious injury to the patient, and 39% that compressing to Guidelines recommended depth may often result in severe patient injury. A quarter felt that the potential benefits of compressing to the Guidelines depth could not justify the injuries it would cause. Breaking ribs made 54% feel very uncomfortable. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulance personnel were physically capable of consistently compressing to the Guidelines depth even on the stiffest chest. These laboratory results cannot be directly compared to the clinical out-of-hospital ALS situation, but strongly indicate that the inadequate chest compressions found in our clinical study were not due to lack of physical capability. We speculate that this may at least partly be explained by their fear of causing patient injury and trust in their own opinion of what is the correct compression depth and force in preference to the feedback.     

Survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Records on 1,297 people with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, caused by heart disease and treated by both emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, were examined to determine whether or not early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) initiated by bystanders independently improved survival. Bystanders initiated CPR for 579 patients (bystander CPR); for the remaining 718 patients, CPR was delayed until the arrival of EMTs (delayed CPR). Survival was significantly better (P less than 0.05) in the bystander-CPR group (32%) than in the delayed-CPR group (22%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the superior survival in the bystander-CPR group was due almost entirely to the much earlier initiation of CPR (1.9 minutes for the Bystander-CPR group and 5.7 minutes for the delayed-CPR group; P less than 0.001). There were significantly more people with ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the bystander-CPR group (80%) than in the delayed-CPR group (68%); and, for people in VF, the survival rate was significantly better if they had received bystander-CPR (37% versus 29%). The authors conclude that early initiation of CPR by bystanders significantly improves survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and they suggest that it may do so by prolonging the duration of VF after collapse and by increasing cardiac susceptibility to defibrillation. The benefit of this early CPR, however, appears to exist within a rather narrow window of effectiveness. It must be started within 4-6 minutes from the time of collapse and must be followed within 10-12 minutes of the collapse by advanced life support in order to be effective.     

A stabilization device to improve the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during ambulance transportation: A randomized crossover trial

Background

The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during ambulance transportation is suboptimal, and therefore measures that can improve the quality are desirable.

Purpose

To evaluate whether the use of a stabilization device can improve the quality of CPR during ambulance transportation.

Methods

This randomized controlled crossover trial enrolled 22 experienced ambulance officers. Each participant performed CPR in an ambulance under three conditions with 72 h apart, each condition for 10 min: non-moving (NM), moving without device (MND), and moving with device (MD). The sequences of conditions were randomized. The primary outcomes were effective chest compressions recorded by the Laerdal Resusci-Anne Skill-reporter manikin. The secondary outcomes included the severity of back pain scored using the Brief Pain Inventory short-form, the physiology parameter before and after CPR, and the changes in postural stability which was represented by the sway index (SI) of lower back measured using a goniometer.

Results

The overall effective compressions in 10 min were 87.0 ± 17% for NM, 59.0 ± 19% for MND, and 69.0 ± 23% for MD (p < 0.001). Compared to MND, MD had a lower no-flow fraction while driving on curved sections (0.04 vs. 0.29, p < 0.001). Whereas the pain severity and social interference scores were similar under all conditions, MND had a higher SI than MD and NM.

Conclusions

The use of a stabilization device can improve the quality of CPR and posture stability during ambulance transportation, although the effects on the severity of back pain were not significant.     

Quantitative relationship between end-tidal carbon dioxide and CPR quality during both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

ObjectiveCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend the administration of chest compressions (CC) at a standardized rate and depth without guidance from patient physiologic output. The relationship between CC performance and actual CPR-generated blood flow is poorly understood, limiting the ability to define “optimal” CPR delivery. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) has been proposed as a surrogate measure of blood flow during CPR, and has been suggested as a tool to guide CPR despite a paucity of clinical data. We sought to quantify the relationship between ETCO₂ and CPR characteristics during clinical resuscitation care.MethodsMulticenter cohort study of 583 in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with time-synchronized ETCO₂ and CPR performance data captured between 4/2006 and 5/2013. ETCO₂, ventilation rate, CC rate and depth were averaged over 15-s epochs. A total of 29,028 epochs were processed for analysis using mixed-effects regression techniques.ResultsCC depth was a significant predictor of increased ETCO₂. For every 10 mm increase in depth, ETCO₂ was elevated by 1.4 mmHg (p < .001). For every 10 breaths/min increase in ventilation rate, ETCO₂ was lowered by 3.0 mmHg (p < .001). CC rate was not a predictor of ETCO₂ over the dynamic range of actual CC delivery. Case-averaged ETCO₂ values in patients with return of spontaneous circulation were higher compared to those who did not have a pulse restored (34.5 ± 4.5 vs 23.1 ± 12.9 mmHg, p < .001).ConclusionsETCO₂ values generated during CPR were statistically associated with CC depth and ventilation rate. Further studies are needed to assess ETCO₂ as a potential tool to guide care.     

Motivation and adult learning: a survey among hospital personnel attending a CPR course

AIM OF THE STUDY: A massive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programme is continued in most hospitals to make hospital personnel ready to take action in cases of cardiac arrest. Motivated course participants learn more and perform better than unmotivated course participants. This study investigates whether hospital personnel are motivated to participate in CPR courses and whether motivation correlates with important assumptions in adult learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey measuring learning motivation via the MSLQ instrument was performed among 361 hospital personnel before attending a CPR course. Assumptions of adult learning were identified and data were analysed in relation to these assumptions. RESULTS: Hospital personnel are generally motivated for learning CPR. Respondents who had been prepared for the course, who had participated in the decision about attending the course, who were working in high-risk area for cardiac arrest or were nursing personnel working in long-time close contact with patients were more motivated to CPR training than other hospital personnel. It seems like motivation correlates with adult learning assumptions such as the learners need to know, the learners self-concept, readiness to learn and orientation to learning. CONCLUSION: This study supports the assumption that CPR training should be based on an adult learning model. As preparedness, participation, readiness and relevance seem to be key factors, we may want to include these factors when training hospital personnel in CPR skills.     

Volume versus outcome: More emergency medical services personnel on-scene and increased survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Background and aim: The large regional variation in survival after treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is incompletely explained. Communities respond to OHCA with differing number of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who respond to the scene. The effect of different numbers of EMS personnel on-scene upon outcomes is unclear. We sought to evaluate the association between number of EMS personnel on-scene and survival after OHCA.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on 16,122 EMS-treated OHCA events from December 1, 2005 to May 31, 2007 from a combined population over 21 million people residing in an area of over 33,000 square miles in Canada and the United States. Number of EMS personnel on-scene was defined as the number of EMS personnel who responded to the scene of OHCA within 15 min after 9-1-1 call receipt and prior to patient death or transport away from the scene. Associations with survival to hospital discharge were assessed by using generalized estimating equations to construct multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsCompared to a reference number of EMS personnel on-scene of 5 or 6, 7 or 8 EMS personnel on-scene was associated with a higher rate of survival to hospital discharge, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.73). There was no significant difference in survival between 5 or 6 personnel on-scene versus fewer.ConclusionMore EMS personnel on-scene within 15 min of 9-1-1 call was associated with improved survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It is unlikely that this finding was mediated solely by earlier CPR or earlier defibrillation.     

Arterial base excess after CPR: the relationship to CPR duration and the characteristics related to outcome

OBJECTIVE: We aimed (1) to determine the relationship between arterial base excess (BE) immediately after the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and (2) to ascertain the value of admission BE data as a predictor of mortality in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA). DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: An emergency department of a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven patients who presented with non-traumatic out-of-hospital witnessed CA between January 2001 and December 2004 in whom arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis was performed within 10 min after ROSC. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Individual medical records were reviewed for demographic characteristics; cause of CA; electrocardiogram pattern at the scene; CPR duration; ABG data; outcome (survival to discharge or in-hospital death). Significant correlations were observed between CPR duration and BE in all 87 patients (r = 0.51, p < 0.01) and in the 66 non-survivors (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), but not in the 21 survivors. Mean arterial BE in survivors was significantly higher than that observed in non-survivors (-15.3 +/- 5.7 mmol/L versus -19.1 +/- 6.3 mmol/L). Mean CPR duration was 34 +/- 16 min in non-survivors and 18 +/- 10 min in survivors (p<0.01). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that significant predictors of survival included cardiac aetiology (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-33; p<0.01), ventricular fibrillation at the scene (odds ratio, 7.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-39.9; p<0.01), and CPR duration 相似文献   

Effects of monthly practice on nursing students' CPR psychomotor skill performance

Aims

The study examined the effects of brief monthly practice on nursing students’ CPR psychomotor skill performance at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months compared to a control group with no practice, and of repeating the initial BLS course at 12 months.

Methods

Nursing students (n = 606) completed either HeartCode™ BLS or an instructor-led course and were then randomly assigned to an intervention group practice schedule, consisting of experimental (6 min of monthly practice on a voice advisory manikin) or control (no practice) and test out month. Every 3 months, a subset of students was randomly selected from both groups for reassessment of their CPR psychomotor skills. Outcome measures were compression rate and depth, percent of compressions performed with adequate depth, percent performed with correct hand placement, ventilation rate and volume, and percent of ventilations with adequate volume.

Results

At 3 months, there were no differences between the groups in mean ventilation volume (p = 0.71), but with practice by 6 months students were able to ventilate with an adequate volume; this skill continued to improve with monthly practice. In the control group, the mean ventilation volumes were less than the recommended minimum throughout the 12 months. The control group had a significant loss of ability to compress with adequate depth between 9 and 12 months (p = 0.004). By practicing only 6 min a month, students maintained or improved their CPR skills over the 12-month period.

Conclusion

The findings confirmed the importance of practicing CPR psychomotor skills to retain them and also revealed that short monthly practices could improve skills over baseline.     

Barriers and facilitators to CPR training and performing CPR in an older population most likely to witness cardiac arrest: A national survey

Background

Bystander CPR rates are lowest at home, where 85% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur. We sought to identify barriers and facilitators to CPR training and performing CPR among older individuals most likely to witness cardiac arrest.

Methods

We selected independent-living Canadians aged ≥55 using random-digit-dial telephone calls. Respondents were randomly assigned to answer 1 of 2 surveys eliciting barriers and facilitators potentially influencing either CPR training or performance. We developed survey instruments using the Theory of Planned Behavior, measuring salient attitudes, social influences, and control beliefs.

Results

Demographics for the 412 respondents (76.4% national response rate): Mean age 66, 58.7% female, 54.9% married, 58.0% CPR trained (half >10 years ago). Mean intentions to take CPR training in the next 6 months or to perform CPR on a victim were relatively high (3.6 and 4.1 out of 5). Attitudinal beliefs were most predictive of respondents’ intentions to receive training or perform CPR (Adjusted OR; 95%CI were 1.81; 1.41–2.32 and 1.63; 1.26–2.04 respectively). Respondents who believed CPR could save a life, were employed, and had seen CPR advertised had the highest intention to receive CPR training. Those who believed CPR should be initiated before EMS arrival, were proactive in a group, and felt confident in their CPR skills had the highest intention to perform CPR.

Interpretation

Attitudinal beliefs were most predictive of respondents’ intention to complete CPR training or perform CPR on a real victim. Behavioral change techniques targeting these specific beliefs are most likely to make an impact.     

A Failed Attempt to Improve Quality of Out-of-Hospital CPR Through Performance Evaluation

Introduction. Quality of CPR performed by professionals has been reported to be substandard even with automated corrective feedback. Our hypothesis was that providing CPR performance evaluation (CPR-PE) to three ambulance services would facilitate local education andimplementation of CPR guidelines and, consequently, improve CPR quality.

Methods: Quality of CPR in 85 consecutive cases of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests after CPR-PE was compared to 39 cases prior to CPR-PE. Real-time automated verbal andvisual feedback on CPR performance was given in all cases. No general implementation strategy was provided because the sites were expected to use the CPR-PEs in development of local strategies. Because the strategies were expected to vary, the sites were analyzed separately.

Results: No significant improvement was seen in quality of CPR after CPR-PE. No chest compressions were given 40% of the time before versus 41% after CPR-PE. The median (95% confidence interval) percentage of chest compressions within the recommended depth range (38–51 mm) was 35% (27–57) before versus 51% (42–60) after CPR-PE (p = 0.12). In site-specific analysis, chest compressions within guideline depth increased from 31% to 61% after CPR-PE (p = 0.05) in one site.

Conclusions: Overall our attempt to improve CPR-quality was unsuccessful. Quality improvement likely requires a full range of implementation strategies to change current attitudes andpractices.     

Impact of transport to critical care medical centers on outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Background

Post-resuscitation care has emerged as an important predictor of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In Japan, selected hospitals are certified as Critical Care Medical Centers (CCMCs) based on their ability and expertise.

Hypothesis

Outcome after OHCA is better in patients transported to a CCMC compared a non-critical care hospital (NCCH).

Materials and methods

Adults with OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology, treated by emergency medical services systems, and transported in Osaka from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007 were registered using a prospective Utstein style population cohort database. Primary outcome measure was 1 month neurologically favorable survival (CPC ≤ 2). Outcomes of patients transported to CCMC were compared with patients transported to NCCH using multiple logistic regressions and stratified on the basis of stratified field ROSC.

Results

10,383 cases were transported. Of these, 2881 were transported to CCMC and 7502 to NCCH. Neurologically favorable 1-month survival was greater in the CCMC group [6.7% versus 2.8%, P < 0.001]. Among patients who were transported to hospital without field ROSC, neurologically favorable outcome was greater in the CCMC group than the NCCH group [1.7% versus 0.5%; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 3.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.17-5.29; P < 0.001]. In the presence of field ROSC, survival was similar between the groups [43% versus 41%; adjusted OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.82-1.45; P = 0.554].

Conclusions

Survival after OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology transported to CCMCs was better than those transported to NCCHs. For OHCA patients without field ROSC, transport to a CCMC was an independent predictor for a good neurological outcome.     

Guilt, shame and need for a container: a study of post-traumatic stress among ambulance personnel

Post-traumatic stress symptoms among ambulance personnel are regarded as a natural behaviour and reaction to working with the severely injured, suicides, injured children and dead people. The findings show that post-traumatic stress symptoms, guilt, shame and self-reproach are common after duty-related traumatic events. To handle these overwhelming feelings it is necessary to talk about them with fellow workers, friends or family members. By using another person as a container it is possible to internalise the traumatic experience. Poor and un-emphatic behaviour towards a patient and their relatives can have its origin in untreated traumatic experiences. Personnel in ambulance organisations who perform defusing, debriefing and counselling have to be informed of the importance that the roll of guilt and shame may play in the developing of post-traumatic stress symptoms.     

广州东部地区公众徒手心肺复苏术掌握现状调查及培训分析

目的了解广州东部地区公众对徒手心肺复苏术（CPR）掌握现状,探讨对公众进行CPR培训的方法。方法对广州东部地区738人进行CPR培训,培训前后理论和操作考试。结果广州东部地区公众普遍缺乏心肺复苏知识和技能。培训后操作考试合格率从培训前12．0％提高到100．0％。结论广州东部地区公众普遍缺乏心肺复苏基本知识和技能,规范培训能有效提高公众心肺复苏技能。     

Advantage of CPR-first over call-first actions for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in nonelderly patients and of noncardiac aetiology

AimTo assess the benefit of immediate call or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs).MethodsOf 952,288 OHCAs in 2005–2012, 41,734 were bystander-witnessed cases without prehospital involvement of physicians but with bystander CPR (BCPR) on bystander's own initiative. From those OHCAs, we finally extracted the following three call/BCPR groups: immediate Call + CPR (N = 10,195, emergency call/BCPR initiated at 0 or 1 min after witness, absolute call–BCPR time interval = 0 or 1 min), immediate Call-First (N = 1820, emergency call placed at 0 or 1 min after witness, call-to-BCPR interval = 2–4 min), immediate CPR-First (N = 5446, BCPR initiated at 0 or 1 min after witness, BCPR-to-call interval = 2–4 min). One-month neurologically favourable survivals were compared among the groups. Critical comparisons between Call-First and CPR-First groups were made considering arrest aetiology, age, and bystander–patient relationship after confirming the interactions among variables.ResultsThe overall survival rates in immediate Call + CPR, Call-First, and CPR-First groups were 11.5, 12.4, and 11.5%, respectively without significant differences (p = 0.543). Subgroup analyses by multivariate logistic regression following univariate analysis disclosed that CPR-first group is more likely to survive in subgroups of noncardiac aetiology (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval, 2.01; 1.39–2.98) and of nonelderly OHCAs (1.38; 1.09–1.76).ConclusionsImmediate CPR-first action followed by an emergency call without a large delay may be recommended when a bystander with sufficient skills to perform CPR witnesses OHCAs in nonelderly people and of noncardiac aetiology.