Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Research Articles

Are high school cardiopulmonary resuscitation education mandates working? Insights from a high school survey on CPR knowledge, attitudes, and readiness

BackgroundThe use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) significantly improve the chances of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Subsequently, state laws mandate training in CPR and AED use for high school graduation. However, training and its impact vary and must be better understood. ObjectiveWe assessed the current CPR training mandates and their impact. MethodsWe performed a nationwide, cross-sectional, survey-based observational study of high schoolers in 9th to 12th grades in all 50 states from 2020 to 2022 (NCT04493970), assessing basic demographics, attitudes, knowledge and skills, and willingness to learn CPR and AED. ResultsWe had an 8% response rate, resulting in 2395 high school students surveyed. The mean age of respondents was 16.8 ± 0.7 years, with 52.5% female students. Of these, 86% underwent some form of training, and 25.1% had CPR training in the last year. Only 58.7% knew how to use an AED. Notably, 26.9% had previously witnessed CPR, and almost all (94%) realized the importance of learning CPR. Most respondents also believed recurrent and longitudinal would be beneficial. ConclusionSurprisingly, only a small cohort of students undergo CPR training even when it is mandatory. The quality of this training appears to be inadequate to impart appropriate confidence and knowledge levels. This suggests a need for a significant overhaul of CPR training mandates across the United States.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Without Aortic Valve Compression Increases the Chances of Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Following current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines, which recommend chest compressions at "the center of the chest," ~50% of patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) undergo aortic valve (AV) compression, obstructing blood flow. We used resuscitative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to elucidate the impact of uncompressed vs. compressed AV on outcomes of adult patients experiencing OHCA. Prospective observational cohort study. Single center. This study included adult OHCA patients undergoing resuscitative TEE in the emergency department. Patients were categorized into AV uncompressed or AV compressed groups based on TEE findings. None. The primary outcome was sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The secondary outcomes included end-tidal co2 (Et co2 ) during CPR, any ROSC, survival to ICU and hospital discharge, post-resuscitation withdrawal, and favorable neurologic outcomes at discharge. Additional analyses on intra-arrest arterial blood pressure (ABP) were also conducted. The sample size was pre-estimated at 37 patients/group. From October 2020 to January 2023, 76 patients were enrolled, 39 and 37 in the AV uncompressed and AV compressed groups, respectively. Intergroup baseline characteristics were similar. Compared with the AV compressed group, the AV uncompressed group had a higher probability of sustained ROSC (53.8% vs. 24.3%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.72; p = 0.010), any ROSC (56.4% vs. 32.4%; aOR, 3.30; p = 0.033), and survival to ICU (33.3% vs. 8.1%; aOR, 6.74; p = 0.010), and recorded higher initial diastolic ABP (33.4 vs. 11.5 mm Hg; p = 0.002) and a larger proportion achieving diastolic ABP greater than 20 mm Hg during CPR (93.8% vs. 33.3%; p < 0.001). The Et co2 , post-resuscitation withdrawal, and survival to discharge revealed no significant intergroup differences. No patients were discharged with favorable neurologic outcomes. Uncompressed AV seemed critical for sustained ROSC across all subgroups. Absence of AV compression during OHCA resuscitation is associated with an increased chance of ROSC and survival to ICU. However, its effect on long-term outcomes remains unclear.

Finite Element Analysis of a Rib Cage Model: Influence of Four Variables on Fatigue Life during Simulated Manual CPR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique used in emergencies when the heart stops beating, typically involving chest compressions and ventilation. Current adult CPR guidelines do not differentiate based on age beyond infancy and childhood. This oversight increases the risk of fatigue fractures in the elderly due to decreased bone density and changes in thoracic structure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation and impact of factors influencing rib fatigue fractures for safer out-of-hospital manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OHMCPR) application. Using the finite element analysis (FEA) method, we performed fatigue analysis on rib cage models incorporating chest compression conditions and age-specific trabecular bone properties. Fatigue life analyses were conducted on three age-specific rib cage models, each differentiated by trabecular bone properties, to determine the influence of four explanatory variables (the properties of the trabecular bone (a surrogate for the age of the subject), the site of application of the compression force on the breastbone, the magnitude of applied compression force, and the rate of application of the compression force) on the fatigue life of the model. Additionally, considering the complex interaction of chest compression conditions during actual CPR, we aimed to predict rib fatigue fractures under conditions simulating real-life scenarios by analyzing the sensitivity and interrelation of chest compression conditions on the model's fatigue life. Time constraints led to the selection of optimal analysis conditions through the use of design of experiments (DOE), specifically orthogonal array testing, followed by the construction of a deep learning-based metamodel. The predicted fatigue life values of the rib cage model, obtained from the metamodel, showed the influence of the four explanatory variables on fatigue life. These results may be used to devise safer CPR guidelines, particularly for the elderly at a high risk of acute cardiac arrest, safeguarding against potential complications like fatigue fractures.

Koolangka Infant Life Saving: Culturally responsive infant CPR education for Aboriginal Australian parents

Objectives: Among Aboriginal children, the year between birth and 1 year of age has the highest mortality rate compared with any other age. Prompt administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) leads to better outcomes and a lower likelihood of ongoing sequalae. Current education on infant CPR is not provided to parents except in certain circumstances in a neonatal intensive care unit. Currently, there are no identified CPR education courses specifically available for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, meaning that current infant CPR education courses are not culturally responsive. Design: Partnering with an Aboriginal community from the Bindjareb region of the Western Australian Noongar nation, the researchers used a co-design approach and an Aboriginal Participatory Action Research (APAR) design to explore how to deliver culturally safe and responsive infant CPR community education. This resulted in the development of the Koolangka Infant Life Saving Education Framework (KILSEF), which can be used to guide future planning and delivery of culturally safe and responsive community level infant CPR education. Results: The study findings identified that members of the Aboriginal community were very interested in receiving infant CPR education, but the barriers identified from mainstream CPR course delivery need to be removed for the community to benefit from culturally responsive ways of learning. Culturally responsive community CPR education should be provided in culturally safe places and the focus of learning should be on the practical applications of CPR and less on the academic pre-reading and written requirements. Explanations should be provided in lay terms and patience is required to communicate ideas in ways that facilitate understanding, and the course may need to be delivered over several days to accommodate community participant availability. Conclusion: Addressing Aboriginal community concerns and barriers allowed for the implementation of culturally responsive infant resuscitation education which was highly valued by community members and led to increased community confidence and participation in CPR education.

Treatment strategy for an unstable chest wall after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Every year ca. 60,000 people in Germany undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The two most frequent underlying causes are of cardiopulmonary and traumatic origin. According to the current CPR guidelines chest compressions should be performed in the middle of the sternum with a pressure frequency of 100-120/min and to adepth of 5-6 cm. In contrast to trauma patients where different injury patterns can arise depending on the accident mechanism, both the type of trauma and the injury pattern are similar in patients after CPR due to repetitive thorax compression. It is known that an early reconstruction of the thoracic wall and the restoration of the physiological breathing mechanics in trauma patients with unstable thoracic injuries reduce the rates of pneumonia and weaning failure and shorten the length of stay in the intensive care unit. As a result, it is increasingly being propagated that an unstable thoracic injury as a result of CPR should also be subjected to surgical treatment as soon as possible. In the hospital of the authors an algorithm was formulated based on clinical experience and the underlying evidence in a traumatological context and a surgical treatment strategy was designed, which is presented and discussed taking the available evidence into account.

Abstract 217: Chest Compression on Aortic Valve Decreases Chance of Return of Spontaneous Circulation for Patients Experiencing Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Current CPR guidelines recommend applying chest compression at "the center of the chest" for patients undergoing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, studies revealed that following this recommendation, around half of OHCA patients would receive compressions on the aortic valve (AV), potentially obstructing blood flow and worsening prognosis. Hypothesis and Aim: We aimed to use transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to test the hypothesis of the impact of AV compression vs AV non-compression on adult OHCA patients' outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study included OHCA patients receiving TEE exams during CPR. Exclusion criteria were the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) before TEE, unidentifiable compression site, or unqualified TEE image. Patients were divided into AV-compressed or non-compressed groups based on initial TEE findings. Patient characteristics, TEE recordings, resuscitation data, and critical time points were analyzed. Primary outcome was sustained ROSC. Secondary outcomes included any ROSC, survival to admission, survival to discharge, and favorable neurological outcomes upon discharge defined by MRS ≤ 2. The sample size was pre-estimated as 37 patients per group. Results: A total of 76 patients from October 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled for analysis, with 39 in the AV non-compressed group and 37 in the AV-compressed group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Compared to the compressed group, the non-compressed group had a better chance of sustained ROSC [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.72, p=0.010], any ROSC (aOR 3.30, p=0.033), and survival to admission (aOR 6.74, p=0.010). The main results were tabulated as below. Conclusions: CPR with compressed AV decreased the chances of ROSC among OHCA patients.

224 Quality of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) feedback devices for layperson CPR

224 Quality of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) feedback devices for layperson CPR

PERFORMANCE OF CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A MILITARY MEDICAL FACULTY

Cardiac arrest is an escalating public health problem as it contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, accounting for almost 15–20% of all deaths. Cardiac arrest may also occur among active individuals, such as during sports activities. Hence, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is crucial and proven to prevent cardiac death when correctly performed. Precise CPR techniques do improve a patient’s prognosis and reduces complications. This study aimed to determine CPR knowledge among medical students in our medical faculty. This was a cross-sectional study involving 106 students in year 1, 2 and 5, with a response rate of 76.8%. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the students and included socio-demographic data collection and questions on CPR knowledge based on the CPR teaching module. More than half the students were male (58.5%) with a mean age of 21.6 (±1.71) years. The students' ethnicity comprised Malay (62.3%), Indian (26.4%) and Chinese (11.3%). The student subject proportions were 32.1% from year 1, 34.9% from year 2 and 33.0% from year 5. A majority were cadet students (71.7%). The preferred study method was self-study followed by study group. More than quarter of them used YouTube videos to improve their understanding, and only 5.7% used e-learning. As for CPR knowledge, 89.9% of the students passed the CPR assessment. Female students (p=0.04) and Year 5 students (p=0.006) were significantly associated with good CPR performance. Medical students be updated current CPR knowledge as CPR techniques evolve. The faculty needs to be proactive in delivering effective teaching methods and tools to improve CPR knowledge among our medical students to prepare them for future job practice.

Time to Resuscitate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: The 3R/CPR Refill-Recoil-Rebound

Introduction: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major healthcare issue worldwide with gloomy outcomes due to poor perfusion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), deemed unsuitable for hemostatic conditions, cardiotorsal anatomy, electrophysiology, and thoracic biomechanics. Alternatively, we propose a new management, implementing rational exploitation of the stagnant blood masses: manually with a novel technique of cardiac massage and mechanically with a circulatory flow restoration (CFR) device.&#x0D; Methods: Simulated chest compressions were performed through the 5th intercostal space in professional Lifeguards volunteers, placed in the left lateral decubitus position with raised legs and abdominal compression.&#x0D; Results: Bypassing the sternal barrier, refilling the heart, and then compressing the chest with a recoil-rebound maneuver (3R / CPR) can significantly promote return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The effectiveness of the CFR device versus CPR has previously been demonstrated in the literature.&#x0D; Conclusion: Unlike current CPR, the 3R/CPR adapts human morphology and provides adequate myocardial perfusion promoting ROSC safely, under all circumstances. Preclinical computational models can confirm the effectiveness of the technique.

Relationship between measures of thoracic diameter and cardiopulmonary resuscitation-induced thoracoabdominal injury.

We investigated the relationship between thoracic diameters and chest compression-related thoracoabdominal injury in patients with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who had a return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A total of 63 consecutive adult non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Computed tomography was performed on each patient and the anteroposterior diameter, skin-to-skin anteroposterior diameter, and transverse diameter of the chest were measured. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation-related thoracoabdominal injury. Age, sex, and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, anteroposterior diameter, skin-to-skin anteroposterior diameter, and transverse diameter were compared between the groups. The primary outcome was the relationship between thoracic diameters and cardiopulmonary resuscitation-induced thoracoabdominal injuries. Thoracoabdominal injuries were detected in 46% (n=29) of the patients and consisted of rib fractures in 22 (34.9%) patients, pulmonary contusion in 7 (11.1%), and sternal fracture in 3 (4.8%) patients. There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration between patients with and without thoracoabdominal injuries (p=0.539). Similarly, there were no significant differences in anteroposterior diameter, skin-to-skin anteroposterior diameter, or transverse diameter between patient groups (p=0.978, p=0.730, and p=0.146, respectively) or between patients who died within the first 28 days and those who survived for longer than 28 days (p=0.488, p=0.878, and p=0.853, respectively). The iatrogenic thoracoabdominal injuries caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed according to the cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines were independent of thoracic diameters. Therefore, the cardiac compression depth of 5-6 cm recommended by the current cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines is reliable for patients with different thoracic diameters.

The Reality of Medical Reality Television: Analysis of Physician Demographics, Trauma, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Characteristics.

BackgroundTelevision and media have a profound effect on viewers’ understanding and interpretation of the world we live in. Reality television can be even more influential to viewers given its depiction of “real life”.Materials and methodsEvery episode (n=46) was analyzed from five medical reality television shows. Hopkins, Boston Med, NY Med, Vanderbilt MDs, and Lenox Hill were selected based on criteria requiring the show to be a reality show or docuseries that recorded unscripted patient interactions in the inpatient setting or emergency department. ResultsOf the 185 physicians shown on medical reality television, most were male (76.8%), white (80.0%), and surgeons (62.2%). Of the 417 patients shown on television, 72 patients had a traumatic mechanism of injury. Traumatic mechanisms included injury due to motor vehicle accident (29.2%), firearm (26.4%), cutting/piercing (12.5%), fall (12.5%), and fire/flame/hot substance (6.9%). Twenty-two of the 417 patients required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Seven patients (31.8%) experienced cardiac arrest due to a traumatic mechanism of injury.ConclusionsThere was an overrepresentation of male physicians, white physicians, and surgeons on medical reality television compared to current demographic data on physicians (p<0.01). Traumatic mechanisms of injury by firearm, cutting/piercing, fire/flame/hot substance and traumatic causes of cardiac arrest were over-represented on television compared to current trauma and CPR registry data (p<0.01). This skewed “reality” of medicine as a non-diverse landscape riddled with trauma has the potential to profoundly impact viewers’ understanding of medical professionals and the medical field.

Quantitative assessment of chest compression techniques on an infant manikin.

Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend the two-finger technique (TFT) of chest compression (CC) in infants for a single rescuer. We hypothesized that healthcare providers cannot achieve adequate CC depth with TFT, even if using real-time visual feedback (RVF). This was a cross-over study, randomizing participants to perform three sets of 2-min continuous CC, comparing (i) TFT with RVF, (ii) the one-hand technique (OHT) without RVF, and (iii) OHT with RVF. A standard CPR trainer manikin of a 3-month-old infant and a monitor/defibrillator that displays and records the quantitative CC quality were used. We set a target compression depth of 40-50 mm and a target compression rate of 100-120/min. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test and Bonferroni correction. Statistical significance was defined as P-value of< 0.05. Fifty-nine healthcare providers participated in the study. The mean compression depth was 24 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 22-26 mm) in TFT with RVF and 43 mm (IQR, 38-48 mm) in OHT without RVF, P < 0.001. The proportion of adequate CC depth was 0% (IQR, 0-0%) in TFT with RVF, 22% (IQR, 5-54%) in OHT without RVF, and 62% (IQR, 29-83%) in OHT with RVF. The mean compression rate was within the target range in all three techniques. The TFT cannot produce the CC depth that meets the recommendation of the current CPR guidelines for an infant with RVF, whereas the OHT does.

Factors influencing paramedics\u2019 and emergency medical technicians\u2019 level of knowledge about the 2015 basic life support guidelines

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge level and factors affecting the current CPR knowledge level among EMTs and paramedics working in the Kayseri 112 emergency health system.MethodsThis survey aimed to reach all paramedics and emergency medical technicians working in the 112 emergency health system in Kayseri province. The data collection consists of sociodemographic/occupational characteristics, CPR training and practice characteristics and 20 four-choice CPR knowledge questions. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the independent variables that affect the number of correct answers given to the questionnaire.Results305 healthcare professionals were included in this study. 57.0% (n = 174) of the participants were female and 56.1% were under the age of 30. It was found that 65.6% (n = 200) of the healthcare professionals were EMTs, and 48.6% (n = 148) had been working for 6–10 years. The mean number of correct responses based on the 20 questions asked was 12.76 ± 3.11. In multivariable analysis, it was determined that having received training on CPR after 2015, having participated in a course or seminar on CPR in the last 3 months and having practiced defibrillation/cardioversion during CPR significantly increased the level of knowledge regarding CPR (respectively, p < 0.01, p = 0.025, p = 0.045).ConclusionCPR trainings, which have been received recently and based on the current guidelines, increase the level of CPR knowledge and the increasing knowledge level affects the use of defibrillation/cardioversion. Improving training increases knowledge and practice.

Mathematical model of modified hybrid pump mechanism for cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Background and objectiveThe “Cardiac pump theory” and “Thoracic pump theory” are representative theories of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mechanisms. Based on these theories, many studies on mathematical modeling have been performed to help understand hemodynamics during CPR. However, there are parts that do not yet properly reflect the physiology of CPR. Therefore, this study aims to develop a lumped parameter model of CPR that can more accurately reflect the current CPR physiology. MethodsBy adding compartments of the superior and inferior vena cava of the thoracic cavity to the existing CPR model, and the “Hybrid pump” mechanism was applied to simulate CPR. To compare the hemodynamics of the conventional CPR model and the developed CPR model, various conditions, such as active compression–decompression CPR with an impedance threshold valve device (ACD–CPR+ITV), head-up-tilt (HUT), and head-down-tilt (HDT), were simulated. The coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was compared by modulating the compression ratio of the atrium and ventricle with the thoracic pump factor. ResultsThe result for the comparison of coronary blood flow showed that the existing model is predominant in the compression phase, whereas the developed model is dominant in the relaxation phase. ACD–CPR + ITV results showed that the CPP decreased by 5 % in the existing model, and increased by about 46 % in the developed model, revealing a distinct hemodynamic difference between the two models. Likewise, as a result of comparing the hemodynamic differences of the two models according to the changes in tilt angle, the HUT showed similar trends, while the HDT showed slightly different results. The CPP varied accordingly with the ratio of the ventricular and atrial thoracic pump factor. ConclusionComparison of the hemodynamics with the existing model by simulating various conditions showed that the developed CPR model reflects the CPR physiology better. The model suggests that the hemodynamics may vary depending on the ventricle and atrium compression ratio. This study may provide an important basis for helping understand various situations and patient-specific hemodynamic characteristics during CPR through in-depth research, such as patient-specific model and parameter optimization.

How Does Rescuer Fitness Affect the Quality of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation?

Objective: High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for patients experiencing cardiac arrest. CPR quality declines within the first few minutes of CPR performance. Being more fit is associated with higher CPR quality, yet the fitness parameters needed remain uncertain. It is also unknown how CPR quality is affected during a protocol of realistic CPR when rescuers switch compressors every two minutes, as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA), and extended duration, as might be encountered with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The purpose of the present study is to determine the extent to which different measures of physical fitness predict high quality CPR performance when rescuers follow current CPR guidelines. Methods: Subjects underwent a fitness assessment evaluating lower back muscular endurance, abdominal muscular endurance, upper body muscular strength, and upper body anaerobic power. At least 48 hours later, subjects returned to the laboratory for CPR testing. CPR quality was determined by compression rate (>100/minute), compression depth (>2 inches, or 50 mm), and adequate (full) chest recoil between compressions, based on American Heart Association guidelines. A CPR Quality Score, designed to represent cardiac output, was calculated as the product of compression rate and depth. Results: Thirty-three of 42 subjects were able to achieve a CPR Quality Score greater than 5000, the minimum needed to meet AHA recommendations. Higher anaerobic power and bench press scores were predictive of both high CPR Quality Scores (R2=0.47) and compression depth (R2=0.47). Sex (female) was predictive of better chest compression recoil percentages (R2=0.15). Conclusion: Most rescuers can maintain high quality CPR if given two minute breaks between cycles. Rescuers with high anaerobic fitness and muscular strength may be able to provide higher quality CPR.

Resuscitation Care in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: a Survey of the Emergency Medical Services Personnel in the Republic of Crimea

Introduction. The choice of the ways for optimizing management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by emergency medical services (EMS) should be based on the evidence from existing practice of resuscitation care. The study was aimed at evaluating personal experience of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance, timing of last training in resuscitation and level of self-perceived knowledge and skills of CPR among the employees of the EMS of the Republic of Crimea, as well as to assess their beliefs on significance of individual CPR procedures in terms of influence on success of resuscitation and to study their perceptions on factors that may have positive or negative impact on effectiveness of resuscitation care.Material and methods. An anonymous survey of the EMS personnel of the Republic of Crimea was conducted in July–December 2019. The questionnaire was utilized to collect demographic data, information on experience of conducting CPR for the last year, on a current practice of CPR debriefings and timing of last CPR training. The participants assessed their knowledge and skills of CPR and their perception of influence of early implementation of individual CPR procedures on success of resuscitation on a 5-point Likert scale, and indicated factors, that may limit or enhance the effectiveness of resuscitation.Results. A total of 251 specialist of the EMS participated in the survey, including 63 physicians, 129 feldshers and 4 nurses of ambulance teams, 45 dispatchers and 5 senior officers of the EMS stations, which corresponds to 28.8% of physicians, 13.0% of feldsher/nursing staff and 17.4% of dispatcher specialists of the republic. Percentage of male respondents was 35.5%, mean age — 41.5 years, mean duration of EMS work experience — 15.5 years. The mean declared number of cases of CPR conducted in the last 12 months was 2.2 (range: 0–20), and 23.5% specialists of the ambulance teams have not participated in any CPR attempt over the last year. About 60.2% respondents were trained in CPR within the last year. When compared to other specialists of ambulance teams, feldshers who work alone (without a coworker), were significantly less commonly performing a real-life resuscitation (p=0.008) or receiving training in CPR (p=0.020). Dispatchers were least covered with resuscitation training (only 33.3% were trained within the last year) and had the lowest level of CPR knowledge and skills. 25.9% of the specialists had an erroneous judgement that early drug administration and/or tracheal intubation have higher influence on success of resuscitation when compared to chest compressions and/or defibrillation. The level of knowledge and skills of CPR depend on the timing of last training (p&lt;0.001).Conclusions. The experience of participation in real-life attempts of CPR is severely limited for considerable part of the EMS employees, and many specialists have not been trained in resuscitation for a long time. The perceptions of the EMS specialists regarding the importance of individual CPR procedures are not always compliant with the statements of current international CPR guidelines. In order to enhance the effectiveness of resuscitation care in the Republic of Crimea, it is advisable to monitor the coverage of the EMS employees with resuscitation training and the rates of their participation in resuscitation attempts, as well as to perform additional targeted training in CPR, in particular, using alternative methods of education.

Knowledge and perceptions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation amongst New Zealand podiatrists: a web-based survey

BackgroundPodiatrists in New Zealand have a duty of care to assist patients in an emergency, and current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification is a requirement for registration. However, it is unknown how competent and confident podiatrists are in administering CPR and how they would respond in an emergency. Having a health professional who has a competent knowledge of CPR and skills in basic life support, can improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest. Therefore, the aim of this study was to survey New Zealand podiatrists to determine their CPR knowledge and qualifications; beliefs about the application of CPR; and perceptions of their competency in CPR.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a web-based survey. Participants were New Zealand registered podiatrists with a current annual practising certificate. The 31-item survey included questions to elicit demographic information, CPR practice and attitudes, and CPR knowledge. Responses were collected between March and August 2020.Results171 podiatrists responded to the survey. 16 % of the podiatrists (n = 28) had performed CPR in an emergency, with a 50 % success rate. Participants were predominantly female (n = 127, 74 %) and working in private practice (n = 140,82 %). Nearly half of respondents were younger than 40 years (n = 75,44 %) and had less than 10 years of clinical experience (n = 73, 43 %). Nearly all (n = 169,97 %) participants had received formal CPR training in the past two years, with 60 % (n = 105) receiving training in the past 12 months. Most respondents (n = 167,98 %) self-estimated their CPR ability as being effective, very effective, or extremely effective. Participants’ knowledge of CPR was variable, with the percentage of correct answers for CPR protocol statements ranging between 20 and 90 %.ConclusionsThis study provides the first insight into New Zealand podiatrists’ CPR knowledge and perceptions. Podiatrists were found to have high levels of CPR confidence but demonstrated gaps in CPR knowledge. Currently, New Zealand registered podiatrists require biennial CPR re-certification. However, resuscitation authorities in New Zealand and overseas recommend an annual update of CPR skills. Based on this study’s findings, and in line with Australia and the United Kingdom, the authors recommend a change from biennial to annual CPR re-certification for podiatrists in New Zealand.Trial registrationThe study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001144909).

Examining Nurses’ Theoretical Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation in Hospitals and Primary Health Care Settings in South Sharqiyah, Sultanate of Oman

Objectives: This study attempts to identify the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of CPR among nurses in South Sharqyiah governorate, Oman. Moreover, it evaluates the association between the knowledge score and the selected variables. This will help to review the effectiveness of current CPR training, thus set up recommendations for better CPR programs. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between April and July 2019 in governmental hospitals and Primary Health care (PHC) institutions in Southern Sharqyiah Oman. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from 282 registered staff nurses, including the Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge in both Basic Life support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life support (ACLS), and nurses' attitude and practice towards CPR. Results: An excellent response rate of a total of 267 nurses (94.6%) took part in the study. Overall, nurses demonstrated inadequate level of knowledge in BLS their mean±SD of the total knowledge scores was 9.05±3.228. Like BLS knowledge, the participants demonstrated inadequate level of knowledge in ACLS as the total mean ±SD was 3.47±.1. 784. The study noted a significant association between the total scores of BLS knowledge and nationality (p=0.028). Conclusions: The result of this study has confirmed that knowledge of the nurses in BLS and ACLS was found to be low. The study revealed high numbers of staff nurses need to renew BLS and ACLS certificates. Thus, there is a crucial need for innovative educational interventions related to CPR. There is also a need to evaluate the knowledge and performance of CPR in clinical area such as mock drill.

The effect of 10-min dispatch-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation training: a randomized simulation pilot study

BackgroundImmediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is essential for survival from sudden cardiac arrest (CA). Current CPR guidelines recommend that dispatchers assist lay rescuers performing CPR (dispatch-assisted CPR (DACPR)), which can double the frequency of bystander CPR. Laypersons, however, are not familiar with receiving CPR instructions from dispatchers. DACPR training can be beneficial for lay rescuers, but this has not yet been validated. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of simple DACPR training for lay rescuers.MethodsWe conducted a DACPR simulation pilot study. Participants who were non-health care professionals with no CPR training within 1 year prior to this study were recruited from Nara Medical University Hospital. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the two 90-min adult basic life support (BLS) training course groups: DACPR group (standard adult BLS training plus an additional 10-min DACPR training) or Standard group (standard adult BLS training only). In the DACPR group, participants practiced DACPR through role-playing of a dispatcher and an emergency caller. Six months after the training, all subjects were asked to perform a 2-min CPR simulation under instructions given by off-duty dispatchers.ResultsOut of the 66 participants, 59 completed the simulation (30 from the DACPR group and 29 from the Standard group). The CPR quality was similar between the two groups. However, the median time interval between call receipt and the first dispatch-assisted compression was faster in the DACPR group (108 s vs 129 s, p = 0.042).ConclusionsThis brief DACPR training in addition to standard CPR training can result in a modest improvement in the time to initiate CPR. Future studies are now required to examine the effect of DACPR training on survival of sudden CA.

P489Survival in children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest after standard or chest compression-only bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation before emergency medical services arrival

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI Grant No. 18K09999) Background For out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend chest compression-only bystander CPR (C- BCPR) for both untrained and trained bystanders unwilling to perform rescue breaths before emergency medical services personnel arrival. However, during 3 consecutive guideline periods, changes in type of BCPR and neurologically intact survival rate are unclear in paediatric OHCA cases. Purpose We aimed to determine the change in the rate and type of BCPR in correlation to the 1-month neurologically intact survival and causes of OHCA. Methods We reviewed 5461 children with bystander witnessed OHCA included in the All-Japan Utstein-style registry from 2005 to 2017. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of BCPR: no BCPR (NO-BCPR), standard BCPR with rescue breaths (S-BCPR), and C-BCPR. Guideline periods 2005 to 2010 (pre-G2010), 2011 to 2015 (G2010), and 2016 to 2017 (G2015) were used for comparison over time. The study endpoint was 1-month neurologically intact survival (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] scale 1 or 2; CPC 1–2). Results The rates of patients receiving any BCPR and 1-month CPC 1–2 by year significantly increased from 46.2% and 9.4% in 2005 to 61.3% and 15.7% in 2017 (all P for trend &amp;lt;0.0001), respectively. The rates of patients receiving C-BCPR in the pre-G2010 period significantly increased from 21.6% to 35.5% in the G2010 period, and to 40.4% in the G2015 period (P for trend &amp;lt;0.0001); the overall proportion of cases with 1-month CPC 1–2 increased from 9.1% to 10.8% and 14.7%, respectively (P for trend &amp;lt;0.0001). Particularly, in patients receiving C-BCPR, CPC 1–2 rate significantly increased from 9.5% in the pre-G2010 period to 19.0% in the G2015 period (P for trend &amp;lt;0.0001). For all time periods, 1-month CPC 1–2 rate in the S-BCPR (17.2%) cohort was significantly higher than those in the C-BCPR (12.5%) and NO-BCPR (6.4%) cohorts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of S-BCPR compared with C-BCPR, 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–2.01; P &amp;lt; 0.0001; compared with NO-BCPR, aOR 2.31; 95% CI, 1.82–2.94; P &amp;lt; 0.0001). No significant difference between S-BCPR and C-BCPR was found in 1-month CPC 1–2 rate for patients with non-traumatic origin (17.7% vs. 16.3%; aOR, 1.23, 95% CI, 0.95–1.59, all P &amp;gt;0.05). However, in patients with traumatic origin, S-BCPR was superior to C-BCPR (15.1% vs. 3.4%; aOR, 4.53, 95% CI, 2.39–8.61, all P &amp;lt;0.0001). During the 3 guidelines periods, the CPC 1–2 rate in patients with non-traumatic origin significantly increased from 11.8% to 19.7% (P for trend &amp;lt; 0.0001), but not in patients with traumatic origin (from 4.9% to 4.1%, P for trend = 0.29). Conclusions During the 3 guidelines periods, the rate of C-BCPR and 1-month CPC 1–2 increased by approximately 2-fold each over time. C-BCPR was associated with increased odds of 1-month CPC 1–2 similar to S-BCPR for children with non-traumatic origin but not in those with traumatic origin.