Efficacy and safety of active abdominal compression-decompression versus standard CPR for cardiac arrests: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 RCTs.

Abstract

Active abdominal compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (AACD-CPR), which applies to cardiac arrests with contraindication of standard chest compressions (SCC) CPR, has been utilized in cardiac arrest. However, the efficacy and safety of AACD-CPR still remained controversy. This analysis was designed to comprehensively compare AACD versus SCC-CPR in patients with cardiac arrest. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CNKI up to April 22, 2019. Mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to compare outcomes of the groups. Our primary outcomes were restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and short-term survival. Two reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. All statistical analyses were performed using standard statistical procedures provided in Review Manager 5.2 and Stata 12.0. A total of seventeen studies (N = 1647 patients) were identified for the present analysis. Compared with standard CPR, AACD-CPR was superior in restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and short-term survival, with pooled RRs of 1.38 (95% CI 1.23-1.55; P < 0.00001) and RRs of 2.05 (95% CI 1.69-2.50; P < 0.00001) respectively. In addition, significant superiority of AACD-CPR was found in incidence of fracture, long-term survival, pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) and adverse events. No significant difference was observed in incidence of vomiting. Generally, in this combined analysis we found a statistically significant improvement in survival and ROSC with the use of AACD-CPR as compared with the use of standard CPR. There was also significant improvement in incidence of fracture, long-term survival, PETCO2 and CPP with AACD-CPR in comparison with standard CPR; results were not statistically different between the groups regarding to vomiting rate and adverse events. The standardized, diversified and individualized methods of clinical operation of AACD-CPR need exploration and expectingly serve as a guideline for clinical application of AACD-CPR in the future.