Does the Use of Auto-Transfusion Tourniquet (A-TT) during CPR Drill Influence its Quality Parameters?

Abstract

The Auto-Transfusion Tourniquet (A-TT®) shifts the blood from the legs to the central circulation and blocks its return to the legs. The use of the A-TT has previously been shown to be effective during CPR and was shown in a pig study [1] to increase systolic and diastolic blood pressures, coronary perfusion pressure, cerebral perfusion and end-tidal PCO2. The present study was done to assess if using the A-TT as part of CPR protocol in pre-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated by a team of 4 caregivers interferes with the quality parameters of the CPR.