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Abstract

Introduction: Naturally occurring cardiopulmonary arrest is a common event in hospitalized pet dogs and cats. CPR is executed on a routine basis and in accordance to clinical consensus guidelines in an attempt to safe these animals. Translational studies, conducted in a realistic setting of naturally occurring cardiac arrest in dogs could overcome many issues associated with laboratory "bench-top" studies. However, ambiguity exists in regards to terminology and operational definitions of hospital, patient, and event variables crucial to reporting clinical pet CPR research. This deficiency needs to be overcome before interventional clinical trials and registries in pet CPR can be implemented. Methods: A pet Utstein task force composed of an international group of experts in veterinary resuscitation and members of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) drafted a list of operational definitions critical to canine and feline in-hospital CPR. At a meeting in San Francisco in April of 2013, the task force aimed to develop consensus on these Utstein-style definitions, on a standardized Utstein template to report clinical pet CPR research, and on selected data elements to be used in a canine and feline CPR registry. Data elements were selected based on their impact on critical patient outcomes and on the logistical capability on accurately collecting and recording these data. Results: A glossary containing 32 operational definitions for hospital, animal, arrest and outcome variables was generated and agreed upon, and provided clear instructions on the use of a pet in-hospital Utstein-style reporting template. In addition a standard reporting form for a pet CPR registry was designed. It includes core data elements that are both outcome defining and feasible to collect and without which a CPR event could not be meaningfully analyzed, as well as less essential, or supplemental metrics. A number of distinct differences to human Utstein variables reflected unique anatomic and procedural characteristics of pet CPR. Respective core variables include chest conformation (round, keel, flat), gender (desexed) and presence/cause of euthanasia in animals with any ROSC. The majority of variables, such as times and intervals, immediate cause of arrest, and initial rhythms emerged as being identical to the human in-hospital CPR reporting guidelines. Conclusions: Important modifications were required when transforming the Utstein-style reporting guidelines for in-hospital cardiac arrest in humans to reflect the equivalent condition in dogs and cats. The resulting recommendations will facilitate multicentre clinical interventional or observational pet CPR research and support translational studies.