Early Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Research Articles

Cardiac Resuscitation Procedures in US Nursing Facilities: Time to Reevaluate the Standard of Care?

Although the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) response has become the standard of care in many community settings over the past 20+ years, the adoption of AEDs in US nursing facilities is variable and the current number of facilities with AEDs is unknown. Recent research into the use of AEDs as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures for nursing facility residents with sudden cardiac arrest demonstrates improved outcomes in the limited cohort with witnessed arrests, early bystander CPR, and an initial amenable rhythm, shocked with an AED before the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. This article reviews data about outcomes of CPR in older adults and nursing facility settings and proposes that standard procedures for CPR attempts in US nursing facilities should be reevaluated and continue to evolve, commensurate with the evidence and community standards.

Impact of COVID-19 on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care processes.

Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of defibrillators (including automated external defibrillators) and timely treatment by emergency medical services are known to increase the chances of survival for a patient experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA); however, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this is unclear from examining previous literature. This commentary critically appraises a recent systematic review and meta-analysis which assesses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre-hospital care for OHCA.

Inverse Association Between Bystander Use of Audiovisual Feedback From an Automated External Defibrillator and Return of Spontaneous Circulation.

BackgroundTreatment with an automated external defibrillator (AED) improves outcome in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Audiovisual feedback from an AED may assist bystanders achieve higher quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the association between audiovisual feedback and clinical outcomes is not well assessed in real‐life OHCA. The aim of this study was to assess the association between audiovisual feedback from an AED used in bystander resuscitation with rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 30‐day survival in a real‐life cohort of patients with OHCA.Methods and ResultsWe included 325 patients treated with bystander AED use before arrival of emergency medical services during 2016 to 2019 from the Capital Region of Denmark. Patients were divided into a “feedback” and a “nonfeedback” group, depending on presence of audiovisual feedback from the AED. Audiovisual feedback was defined as voice prompts with continuous feedback to ongoing resuscitation. Rates of ROSC upon hospital admission and 30‐day survival were assessed, and univariate and multivariable models were applied to decide the association to audiovisual feedback. Multivariable models were adjusted for sex, age, primary heart rhythm, and location of OHCA. A total of 155 (48%) patients had a bystander AED applied with audiovisual feedback and 170 (52%) without audiovisual feedback. A lower rate of ROSC was found in the feedback group compared with the nonfeedback group (33% [n=51] versus 45% [n=76]; P=0.03). No association was observed between AV feedback and 30‐day survival (feedback=27% [n=42] and nonfeedback=31% [n=53]; P=0.49). In the unadjusted logistic regression model, audiovisual feedback was associated with a decreased chance of ROSC (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38–0.95; P=0.03), which remained significant after adjusted analysis (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29–0.97; P=0.04), whereas we found no significant association between audiovisual feedback and 30‐day survival in the unadjusted and adjusted analyses.ConclusionsAudiovisual feedback from an AED used by bystanders was associated with a lower chance of ROSC at hospital admission, but we found no significant difference in 30‐day survival. Focus on early and correct bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED use remain key for OHCA survival.

Improved Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival with a Comprehensive Dispatcher-Assisted CPR Program in a Developing Emergency Care System

Objective Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with poor survival. Studies have demonstrated improved survival with early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR). This study evaluated the impact of a dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) program on BCPR rate and outcomes of OHCA in a developing emergency medical services (EMS) system setting. Methods Data were extracted from the national cardiac arrest registry. A before-after analysis was performed between OHCA cases with cardiac etiology conveyed by EMS from April 2010–June 2012 (pre-intervention) and July 2012–December 2015 (post-intervention). Primary outcomes were survival-to-discharge/30 days post-arrest and favorable cerebral performance (Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance categories 1 and 2). Results 6365 OHCA cases were analyzed with 2129 in the pre-intervention and 4236 in the post-intervention group. In the post-intervention group, there was an increase in BCPR rates from 24.8% to 53.8% (p < 0.001), adjusted OR 3.67 (aOR; 95%CI: 3.26–4.13). OHCA outcomes also improved with survival-to-discharge rates increasing from 3.0%–4.5% (p < 0.01), aOR 2.10 (95%CI: 1.40–3.17) and favorable cerebral performance increasing from 1.6% to 2.7% (p < 0.05), aOR 2.82 (95%CI: 1.65–4.82). In patients with initial shockable rhythm, BCPR without dispatcher assistance was associated with significantly higher odds of survival-to-discharge (aOR 1.67, 95%CI: 1.06–2.64) and favorable cerebral performance (aOR 2.32, 95%CI: 1.26–4.27) compared to no BCPR. Conclusion Our study showed that a simplified DA-CPR program can be successfully implemented in a developing EMS system and can contribute to higher BCPR rate and in turn, improve OHCA survival. Future studies can examine bystanders’ characteristics and quality of the CPR performed to understand their impact on survival.

Factors influencing the willingness to perform bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the workplace: a study from North-Eastern Italy.

Background:Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves the chances of successful resuscitation and survival. However, few data are available regarding the willingness to perform CPR among First Aid Attendants on the Workplace (FAAWs) in Italy. The present study was performed in order to identify current attitudes of Italian FAAWs towards CPR.Methods:Between February and June 2017, FAAWs from the Autonomous Province of Trento were asked about their willingness to perform CPR through a structured questionnaire assessing their knowledge about CPR, and the reasons for hesitancy. A cumulative knowledge score (KS) was eventually calculated.Results:A total of 123 FAAWs (male 57.7%, mean age 45.2 years ± 10.1) completed the questionnaire. About 1/3 of participants (32.5%) had previously performed First Aid procedures. Overall, 77.2% exhibited willingness to perform CPR, and such attitude was more frequently reported by subjects younger than 40 years (29.5% vs. 10.7% in older subjects; p=0.045), perceiving First Aid training as useful (98.9% vs. 84.7%, p=0.002), and exhibiting a better knowledge of CPR (KS≥75%: 47.4% vs. 15.3%). The reasons for the unwillingness were inadequate knowledge and doubt regarding whether they could perform the techniques effectively. Eventually, KS was identified as the main predictor for willingness to perform CPR (OR 4.450, 95%CI 1.442-14.350).Conclusions:Willingness to perform CPR was seemingly high, and knowledge of CPR techniques was its main predictor. These findings emphasize the importance for an accurate CPR training, as well as for the surveillance of the quality of qualification courses.(www.actabiomedica.it)

Blended Distance-classroom Training as an Alternative to the Traditional Classroom Training in Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillation

Introduction . Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical factor in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival, and the readiness of bystanders to provide the first aid is known to be positively influenced by effective training. It is recommended to use alternative teaching methods in order to increase the accessibility of CPR training. The study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the blended approach to resuscitation training, where classroom training hours are partially substituted with remote learning. Material and methods. This prospective randomized study was conducted in November-December 2018. Nursing students and nonmedical university students underwent classroom training (1 hour of lecture, 3 hours of hands-on training) or blended training (1 hour of on-line course, 3 hours of hands-on training) in basic CPR with automated external defibrillation (AED). CPR knowledge and willingness to attempt resuscitation were evaluated before and after the training, and resuscitation skills were assessed as well after training in a simulation scenario. CPR quality measures were registered using the skills checklist when analyzing video recordings, and automatically by means of the Resusci Anne QCPR manikin. Results. The training and the study assessments were completed by 94 participants: 55 - classroom training, 39 - blended training. The mean age was 19 years and 17 years, respectively, 24% and 31% were male. Whereas there were more participants with previous training in CPR in the classroom training group (36% vs. 13%; p<0.05), the baseline levels of knowledge and readiness to perform resuscitation on a stranger were generally comparable between the groups. After the training, there was an increase in willingness to perform resuscitation (from 3.6 to 4.4 points in both groups) and improvement in self-perceived CPR knowledge (from 2.4 to 4.0 points in the classroom training group and from 2.6 to 4.3 in the blended training group). The assessment of the CPR quality in the simulation scenario revealed no significant differences between groups, excepting higher rate of chest compressions in the blended training group (116.0 vs. 109.4, р <0.01). Conclusion. The suggested method of blended training in basic CPR with AED is no less efficient than traditional classroom training, and it can be recommended for increasing access to high-quality training in first aid.

Key components of a community response to out-of-hospital cardiacarrest.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with substantial geographical, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in outcome. Successful resuscitation efforts depend on the 'chain of survival', which includes immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system, early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an emphasis on chest compressions, rapid defibrillation, basic and advanced emergency medical services and integrated post-cardiac arrest care. Well-orchestrated telecommunicator CPR programmes can improve rates of bystander CPR - a critical link in the chain of survival. High-performance CPR by emergency medical service providers includes minimizing interruptions in chest compressions and ensuring adequate depth of compressions. Developing local, regional and statewide systems with dedicated high-performing cardiac resuscitation centres for post-resuscitation care can substantially improve survival after OHCA. Innovative digital tools for recognizing cardiac arrest where and when it occurs, notifying potential citizen rescuers and providing automated external defibrillators at the scene hold the promise of improving survival after OHCA. Improved implementation of the chain of survival can save thousands of lives each year.

Effect of Basic Life Support Training on Knowledge and Practice of Preparatory School Teachers in Sheben Elkom City, Menoufia Governorate,Egypt

Background: Early recognition and immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation are critical determinants of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Presence of qualified teachers who can detect any health problem and can give first aid for emergencies in schools is a very important issue. Objective: It was to assess knowledge and practice of preparatory schools' teachers before and after application of Basic Life Support training program in Sheben Elkom city, Menoufia governorate. Methods: A sample of 300 teachers participated in the study; they were selected by simple random sampling technique. They had completed a pretest through using a questionnaire to assess their knowledge while their practice was assessed through a checklist followed by application of BLS training program for them. Their knowledge and practice were re-evaluated 3 months later by same tools. Results: A sample of 300 teachers had participated in the study; male sex was predominant (79.7%) and middle socioeconomic status constituted (84.3%). Post-test mean knowledge and practice scores (10.11 ± 1.8) & (7.46± 1.4) respectively were higher than pretest mean knowledge and practice scores (2.04 ±2.4) & (3.44 ± 0.85) respectively. There was a highly statistically significant difference in their knowledge and practice scores pre and post BLS training program (p value < 0.001) for each. Conclusion: Current Basic Life Support training program was successful in enhancing knowledge and practice of preparatory school teachers.

Double Sequential Defibrillation.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most commonly encountered arrhythmia following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Previous studies have demonstrated early defibrillation and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation as essential in reducing patient mortality. What remains a clinical concern, however, is the treatment of patients experiencing VF refractory to defibrillation. Although current guidelines advocate pharmacotherapy for the management of shock-refractory VF, double sequential defibrillation has become a popular topic of discussion. This article provides a discourse regarding refractory VF, and a review of double sequential defibrillation literature. Further study is required before the recommendation for widespread implementation of this defibrillation technique.

MP10: Implementation of the PulsePoint mobile device application in Kingston, Ontario, Canada: a pilot study on crowdsourcing bystander CPR for victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction: Every year 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur in Canada. Only 1 in 10 survive. Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can triple odds of survival. PulsePoint is a mobile device application designed to crowdsource bystander CPR and public access defibrillation for victims of OHCA. Kingston, Ontario was the first Canadian city to launch PulsePoint. The objective of this project was to determine feasibility of PulsePoint implementation in a Canadian setting and to describe system performance. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study. We included all 9-1-1 incidents involving PulsePoint system activation in Kingston, Ontario and all confirmed, public location OHCAs assessed by local emergency medical services (EMS) between March 23, 2015 to January 23, 2017. By using time and location data from PulsePoint system alert notifications, we attempted to link each PulsePoint activation to de-identified ambulance call records. Results: Between March 23, 2015 to January 23, 2017, there were 258 PulsePoint system activations in Kingston and a total of 32 cases of confirmed OHCAs. Only 58 (22%) of PulsePoint activations could be linked to EMS records with high confidence. Of these linked cases, 10 were confirmed OHCAs, reflecting 17% (10/58) of all linked PulsePoint activations and 31% (10/32) of all confirmed OHCAs. Of the remaining 48 cases that triggered PulsePoint activation numerous final paramedic problem codes were assigned of which 14% (8/58) were deemed alcohol intoxication, 10% (6/58) were active seizures, 7% (4/58) were behavioural/psychiatric events, among others. 10 incidents (17%) that triggered PulsePoint activation did not have an assigned final paramedic problem code. Conclusion: Implementation of PulsePoint is feasible in Canadian communities. Improved capabilities for linking with local EMS data will improve data capture, program monitoring capacity, and opportunity for research. The impact of PulsePoint on clinical outcomes remains uncertain and should be determined in future research.

Which position should we take during newborn resuscitation? A prospective, randomised, multicentre simulation trial.

Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest is crucial in the chain of survival. Cardiac arrest in infants is rare, but CPR is also performed in severe bradycardia. European Resuscitation Council and American Heart Association guidelines recommend continuing CPR until the heart muscle is sufficiently oxygenated and regains sufficient contractility and function. The most common and recommended CPR techniques that can be applied in newborns are the two-finger technique and two-thumb technique. We sought to assess the quality of CPR performed in newborns with the two-finger technique depending on the posi-tion of the rescuer during resuscitation. This was a prospective, randomised, crossover, simulated study. It involved 93 nurses who were required to perform a two-minute CPR using the two-finger technique in three scenarios: (A) with the newborn lying on the floor; (B) on a table; and (C) with the newborn on the rescuer's forearm. The Newborn Tory® S2210 manikin was used to simulate a neonatal patient in cardiac arrest. The following parameters were measured: chest compression (CC) depth, CC rate, no-flow time, percentage of full release, ventilation rate, and ventilation volume, as well as the number of effective compressions and effective ventilations. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in CC rates between scenarios A and B (p < 0.001) and between scenarios B and C (p = 0.002). Significant differences were also observed between the median CC depth. The median per-centage of no-flow-fraction was the highest for scenario A (55%), followed by scenario B (48%), and scenario C (46%). There were significant differences between the values of no-flow-fraction between scenarios A and B (p < 0.001), and between scenarios A and C (p < 0.001). The percentage of chest full releases for scenarios A, B, and C amounted to 94%, 1%, and 92%, respectively. Significant differences in the number of effective CCs between scenarios A and B (p < 0.001) as well as B and C (p < 0.001) were revealed. The median ventilation rate was highest for scenario B (13 × min-1), and lowest for scenario A (9 × min-1). The highest tidal volume was obtained in scenario A (27 mL), and the lowest in scenario C (26 mL). The most effective CPR was performed when resuscitation was carried out on the rescuer's forearm. The quality of CCs in newborns depends on the location of the patient and the rescuer. The optimal form of resuscitation of newborns is resuscitation on the rescuer's forearm.

Bystander interventions for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: substantiated critical components of the chain of survival

Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are both vital components in the chain of survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) (1,2). Fortunately, bystander CPR rates in industrialized countries have recently increased from 30% to 50% (3-8). A Swedish analysis reported that CPR performed prior to emergency medical services (EMS) arrival was associated with a 30-day survival rate following OHCA more than twice as high as that associated with no CPR before EMS arrival (5). Further, bystander interventions (bystander CPR and defibrillation) were also associated with an increased likelihood of 1-month neurologically intact survival following OHCA according to an analysis of a Japanese nationwide registry (7). As neurological assessments fluctuate for at least 90 days following cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended that longer-term end points (i.e., 90 days) coupled with neurocognitive and quality-of-life assessments should be considered (9). The AHA further suggests that researchers utilize either Cerebral Performance Categories or modified Rankin Scale for global outcomes of neurological assessment in patients following cardiac arrest (9). However, little is known regarding the impact of bystander intervention on long-term (i.e., >90 days following OHCA) neurologically intact survival (3,10).

Out of hospital Cardio-pulmonary arrest - Is there a role for the primary healthcare teams?

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The survival rates are poor and even more frustrating are the rates of neurologically favorable outcomes at hospital discharge. In a recent IJHPR article, Einav et al. concluded that many primary care clinics are underequipped and the physicians underprepared to initiate life-saving services.The chance of having an OHCA in a primary care clinic is very low. But although the impact is small, primary care teams as well as other out-of-hospital healthcare personal should be familiar with the telephone number for summoning emergency medical services (EMS), be aware of the location of the defibrillator in their clinic, and know how to use it.The literature about effective ways to keep long-standing competencies in cardiopulmonary resuscitation among medical personnel outside the hospital is scarce. It is very difficult to evaluate the actual effectiveness of interventions on better outcome; the events are rare and unique in their nature and it hard to generalize the conclusions.The “chain of survival” concept involves a series of steps that should be taken at the scene in the community: early recognition of symptoms and activation of an emergency response system; early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation; rapid defibrillation, if needed; early advanced cardiac life support and integrated post-resuscitation care. In this “chain” there is an important role for healthcare personal in the community via improving their own skills and performance and via a deeper involvement in the education of the public.We should take all the needed steps so that community clinic personnel can be role models for effective and successful out of hospital cardiac resuscitation (OHCR).

Recognising out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during emergency calls increases bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survival

BackgroundInitiation of early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) depends on bystanders’ or medical dispatchers’ recognition of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The primary aim of our study was to investigate if OHCA recognition during the emergency call was associated with bystander CPR, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 30-day survival. Our secondary aim was to identify patient-, setting-, and dispatcher-related predictors of OHCA recognition. MethodsWe performed an observational study of all OHCA patients’ emergency calls in the Capital Region of Denmark from 01/01/2013–31/12/2013. OHCAs were collected from the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry and the Mobile Critical Care Unit database. Emergency call recordings were identified and evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to all OHCAs and witnessed OHCAs only to analyse the association between OHCA recognition and bystander CPR, ROSC, and 30-day survival. Univariable logistic regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of OHCA recognition. ResultsWe included 779 emergency calls in the analyses. During the emergency calls, 70.1% (n=534) of OHCAs were recognised; OHCA recognition was positively associated with bystander CPR (odds ratio [OR]=7.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.10–12.05) in all OHCAs; and ROSC (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.13–3.06) and 30-day survival (OR=2.80, 95% CI: 1.58–4.96) in witnessed OHCA. Predictors of OHCA recognition were addressing breathing (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.17–2.66) and callers located by the patient’s side (OR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.46–3.19). ConclusionsRecognition of OHCA during emergency calls was positively associated with the provision of bystander CPR, ROSC, and 30-day survival in witnessed OHCA.

Community involvement in out of hospital cardiac arrest: A cross-sectional study assessing cardiopulmonary resuscitation awareness and barriers among the Lebanese youth.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Developing countries including Lebanon report low survival rates and poor neurologic outcomes in affected victims. Community involvement through early recognition and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can improve OHCA survival.This study assesses knowledge and attitude of university students in Lebanon and identifies potential barriers and facilitators to learning and performing CPR.A cross-sectional survey was administered to university students. The questionnaire included questions regarding the following data elements: demographics, knowledge, and awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, prior CPR and AED training, ability to perform CPR or use AED, barriers to performing/learning CPR/AED, and preferred location for attending CPR/AED courses. Descriptive analysis followed by multivariate analysis was carried out to identify predictors and barriers to learning and performing CPR.A total of 948 students completed the survey. Participants’ mean age was 20.1 (±2.1) years with 53.1% women. Less than half of participants (42.9%) were able to identify all the presenting signs of cardiac arrest. Only 33.7% of participants felt able to perform CPR when witnessing a cardiac arrest. Fewer participants (20.3%) reported receiving previous CPR training. Several perceived barriers to learning and performing CPR were also reported. Significant predictors of willingness to perform CPR when faced with a cardiac arrest were: earning higher income, previous CPR training and feeling confident in one's ability to apply an AED, or perform CPR. Lacking enough expertise in performing CPR was a significant barrier to willingness to perform CPR.University students in Lebanon are familiar with the symptoms of cardiac arrest, however, they are not well trained in CPR and lack confidence to perform it. The attitude towards the importance of bystander CPR and the need to learn CPR is very positive. Interventions should focus on public awareness campaigns regarding the importance of initiating bystander CPR while activating emergency medical services (EMS) and on making CPR training more available.

Stress and distress: the art and science of dispatcher’s assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

&lt;p&gt;Chances of survival following a cardiac arrest are very low and inversely proportional to the duration of cardiovascular arrest. It is of critical importance to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as soon as possible, even before the arrival of emergency medical team (EMT) on the scene. Therefore, early bystander CPR is a key factor in improving survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOH-CA). In Belgium, the ALERT algorithm (Algorithme Liégeois d’Encadrement à la Réanimation par Téléphone&lt;a title="" href="#_ftn1"&gt;[1]&lt;/a&gt; offers the opportunity to help bystanders perform CPR. Dispatchers’ assisted telephone CPR has introduced a new link in the chain of survival, that contributes to a reduced OOH-CA mortality rate but at the cost of increased responsibilities and stress. ALERT also gives a new role to bystanders; they are no longer just spectators but become actors when they witness a cardiac arrest. Our team was interested in the psychological burden of ALERT. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of CPR performed by untrained persons. We studied the potential influence of different coping strategies on this impact, as well as the possible correlation with the degree of attachment to the victim and the risk of developing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We noticed that some psychological negative impact on the bystanders could be recognized. We also identified beneficial and detrimental coping strategies. In the future, we wonder if Video-CPR (V-CPR) might improve the quality of resuscitation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br clear="all" /&gt;&lt;hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a title="" href="#_ftnref1"&gt;[1]&lt;/a&gt; Algorithm for CPR guidance over the phone originating from Liege, Belgium&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

An exploration of attitudes toward bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in university students in Tianjin, China: A survey

BackgroundDespite the importance of early effective bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the attitudes toward performing, learning and disseminating CPR in university students of China are still unclear. Methods and AimsTo assess the attitudes regarding performing, learning and disseminating bystander CPR in university students of China. ResultsThe results indicated that except for the scenario where the victim was their own family member or close friend, all other scenarios showed a relatively dismally lower rate of positive response. Besides, it showed a greater willingness to perform chest compression only CPR (CC) than chest compression with mouth-to-mouth ventilation (CCMV) (P < 0.05). Females were more willing to perform CC across seven of the hypothetic scenarios than males. University students of medical-related specialties (45.3%) than university students of non-medical specialties (29.9%) were more willing to perform bystander CPR (P < 0.05). The top four reasons for being unwilling to perform bystander CPR were lack of confidence (32.9%), fear of legal disputes (17.2%), fear of disease transmission (16.0%) and feeling embarrassed (14.0%). 92.6% of respondents wanted to learn CPR and 80.3% of respondents were willing to disseminate CPR. ConclusionsCPR technique, victim's status, respondent's specialty and respondent's gender affected the attitudes of respondents toward performing bystander CPR. The top four reasons for being unwilling to perform bystander CPR were lack of confidence, fear of legal disputes, fear of disease transmission and feeling embarrassed. However, the key reason for being unwilling to perform bystander CPR differed in different specialties and particularly ‘feeling embarrassment’ might be a cultural phenomenon. The attitudes toward learning and disseminating CPR were positive and affected by respondent's gender and specialty.

Impact of bystander-performed ventilation on functional outcomes after cardiac arrest and factors associated with ventilation-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A large observational study

AimTo determine the effectiveness of ventilations in bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) and to identify the factors associated with ventilation-only BCPR. MethodsFrom out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) data prospectively collected from 2005 to 2011 in Japan, we extracted data for 210,134 bystander-witnessed OHCAs with complete datasets but no prehospital involvement of physician [no BCPR, 115,733; ventilation-only, 2093; compression-only, 61,075; and conventional (compressions+ventilations) BCPR, 31,233] and determined the factors associated with 1-month neurologically favourable survival using simple and multivariable logistic regression analyses. In 91,885 patients with known BCPR durations, we determined the factors associated with ventilation-only BCPR. ResultsThe rate of survival in the no BCPR, ventilation-only, compression-only and conventional group was 2.8%, 3.9%, 4.5% and 5.0%, respectively. After adjustment for other factors associated with outcomes, the survival rate in the ventilation-only group was higher than that in the no BCPR group (adjusted OR; 95% CI, 1.29; 1.01–1.63), but lower than that in the compression-only (0.76; 0.59–0.96) or conventional groups (0.70; 0.55–0.89). Conventional CPR had the highest OR for survival in almost all OHCA subgroups. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for survival after dividing BCPR into ventilation and compression components was 1.19 (1.11–1.27) and 1.60 (1.51–1.69), respectively. Older guidelines, female sex, younger patient age, bystander-initiated CPR without instruction, early BCPR and short BCPR duration were associated with ventilation-only BCPR. ConclusionsVentilation is a significant component of BCPR, but alone is less effective than compression in improving neurologically favourable survival after OHCAs.

Basic life support knowledge, self-reported skills and fears in Danish high school students and effect of a single 45-min training session run by junior doctors; a prospective cohort study.

BackgroundEarly recognition and immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation are critical determinants of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Our aim was to evaluate current knowledge on basic life support (BLS) in Danish high school students and benefits of a single training session run by junior doctors.MethodsSix-hundred-fifty-one students were included. They underwent one 45-minute BLS training session including theoretical aspects and hands-on training with mannequins. The students completed a baseline questionnaire before the training session and a follow-up questionnaire one week later. The questionnaire consisted of an eight item multiple-choice test on BLS knowledge, a four-level evaluation of self-assessed BLS skills and evaluation of fear based on a qualitative description and visual analog scale from 0 to 10 for being first responder.ResultsSixty-three percent of the students (413/651) had participated in prior BLS training. Only 28% (179/651) knew how to correctly recognize normal breathing. The majority was afraid of exacerbating the condition or causing death by intervening as first responder. The response rate at follow-up was 61% (399/651). There was a significant improvement in correct answers on the multiple-choice test (p < .001). The proportion of students feeling well prepared to perform BLS increased from 30% to 90% (p < .001), and the level of fear of being first responder was decreased 6.8 ± 2.2 to 5.5 ± 2.4 (p < .001).ConclusionKnowledge of key areas of BLS is poor among high school students. One hands-on training session run by junior doctors seems to be efficient to empower the students to be first responders to OHCA.

Implementation of dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary instructions using the ALERT protocol: preliminary results in Belgium

Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a key factor in improving survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOH-CA). The ALERT algorithm, a simple and effective compression-only telephone CPR protocol, has the potential to help bystanders initiate CPR. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the implementation of this protocol in the Liege dispatching centre.