The optimal number of personnel for good quality of chest compressions: A prospective randomized parallel manikin trial

The Five-4-Life Quality Improvement Program: Improving Frontline Nurses' Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Leadership and Team Management Skills

BACKGROUND

Poor leadership and teamwork in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are associated with poor patient outcomes.

PROBLEM

Frontline nursing staff frequently identify patients in cardiac arrest but may not have the initial leadership and teamwork skills to organize their initial rescue response.

APPROACH

The Five-4-Life Quality Improvement (QI) program was pilot tested in a pediatric unit within a 510-bed acute care hospital in 2 phases: first, an educational program focused on leadership, team dynamics, and CPR skills, followed by sustaining interventions in the unit. Video recordings of 12 mock codes (4 pre-, 4 post-, 4 follow-up) were analyzed by trained observers.

OUTCOMES

Descriptive statistical tests indicated a significant improvement in leadership, teamwork, and task management scores pre- and post-program, and sustained after the program.

CONCLUSION

Implementing the Five-4-Life QI program is feasible in improving leadership, teamwork, and task management of first responding frontline nurses.

How Health Habits Influence the Physiological Response During a Physical Activity in Extreme Temperatures?

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine to what degree the health habits of university students influence their physiological response during a 10-min high-intensity exercise. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study with 59 health science students, in which we analyzed their adherence to a Mediterranean and low-fat diet, as well as their activity levels. We correlated these factors with the physiological response (lactic acid and heart rate) and a series of anthropometric parameters in intense physical activity (cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 10 min) in three scenarios: extreme cold, extreme heat and a control situation at room temperature. Results: The results of this study demonstrate that in university students, a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a better response to physical exercise, in this case, 10-min CPR, in hostile environments. Conclusions: Following healthy eating guidelines improves physical performance and delays the appearance of fatigue; both are important aspects for a better performance of CPR.

Physiological Response of Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Crossover Trial on Mannequin in Extreme Temperature Conditions

BACKGROUND

To determine the relationship between physiological fatigue and the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in trained resuscitators in hostile thermal environments (extreme cold and heat) simulating the different conditions found in an out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest.

METHODS

Prospective observational study involving 60 students of the health sciences with training in resuscitation, who simulated CPR on a mannequin for 10 min in different thermal environments: thermo-neutral environment (21 °C and 60% humidity), heat environment (41 °C and 98% humidity) and cold environment (-35 °C and 80% humidity). Physiological parameters (heart rate and lactic acid) and CPR quality were monitored.

RESULTS

We detected a significant increase in the number of compressions per minute in the "heat environment" group after three minutes and in the mean rate after one minute. We observed a negative correlation between the total number of compressions and mean rate with respect to mean depth. The fraction of compressions (proportion of time in which chest compressions are carried out) was significant over time and the mean rate was higher in the "heat environment". Physiological parameters revealed no differences in heart rate depending on the resuscitation scenario; however, there was a greater and faster increase in lactate in the "heat environment" (significant at minute 3). The total proportion of participants reaching metabolic fatigue was also higher in the "heat environment".

CONCLUSIONS

A warm climate modifies metabolic parameters, reducing the quality of the CPR maneuver.

Providing the best chest compression quality: Standard CPR versus chest compressions only in a bystander resuscitation model

Aim of the study

Bystander-initiated basic life support (BLS) for the treatment of prehospital cardiac arrest increases survival but is frequently not performed due to fear and a lack of knowledge. A simple flowchart can improve motivation and the quality of performance. Furthermore, guidelines do recommend a chest compression (CC)-only algorithm for dispatcher-assisted bystander resuscitation, which may lead to increased fatigue and a loss of compression depth. Consequently, we wanted to test the hypothesis that CCs are more correctly delivered in a flowchart-assisted standard resuscitation algorithm than in a CC-only algorithm.

Methods

With the use of a manikin model, 84 laypersons were randomized to perform either flowchart-assisted standard resuscitation or CC-only resuscitation for 5min. The primary outcome was the total number of CCs.

Results

The total number of correct CCs did not significantly differ between the CC-only group and the standard group (63 [±81] vs. 79 [±86]; p = 0.394; 95% CI of difference: 21–53). The total hand-off time was significantly lower in the CC-only group than in the standard BLS group. The relative number of correct CCs (the fraction of the total number of CCs achieving 5-6cm) and the level of exhaustion after BLS did not significantly differ between the groups.

Conclusion

Standard BLS did not lead to an increase in correctly delivered CCs compared to CC-only resuscitation and exhibited significantly more hand-off time. The low rate of CCs in both groups indicates the need for an increased focus on performance during BLS training.

Comparison of chest compression quality in walking versus straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation during stretcher transportation: A prospective randomised crossover study using manikins

The optimal strategy to ensure chest compression quality for patients being transported on a stretcher has not been established yet. We hypothesised that straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation may improve chest compression quality in patients being transported on stretchers. We conducted a prospective randomised crossover study using manikins to investigate whether straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves chest compression quality (depth, recoil, rate, correct hand position) performed on patients during stretcher transportation compared to walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Walking and straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation were performed for 2 minutes each. The mean chest compression depth (mm) for 2 minutes was significantly greater in the straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation group than in the walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation group (median, 51.3 [interquartile range, 46.7–55.5] versus 40.9 [34.6–50.1], P = 0.003). An adequate depth of chest compressions could not be achieved when walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed by female participants, but the depth of chest compressions was within the acceptable range when female participants performed straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation. On the other hand, the degree of deterioration was relatively small in male participants, even when they performed walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In patients with cardiac arrest being transported on a stretcher, straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation improved the depth of chest compressions compared to walking cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Female rescuers, in particular, may consider using straddling cardiopulmonary resuscitation.