II. Indications
- Newborn Resucitation
- Pediatric Resuscitation
- Adult Resuscitation
III. Technique: Compressions
- Compressions are the mainstay of Resuscitation and trump all medications in survival benefit
- Goal is to increase Coronary Artery perfusion pressure >25 mmHg for improved outcomes
- When team leader, ensuring high quality CPR is paramount
- Compressions should be started immediately for an unresponsive, apneic patient
- Only health care providers should check for pulse (<10 seconds) before CPR
- Other rescuers should start compressions without delay
- If any doubt about palpable central pulses, begin Cardiac Compressions
- Markers of adequate compression
- EtCO2 >15 mmHg suggests compressions are generating a perfusion pressure
- Arterial Line diastolic pressure >40 mmHg
- Read from Arterial Line tracing (not generated diastolic number on machine)
- Compressions should be interrupted only briefly (<10 seconds) if at all
- EtCO2 is a reliable marker for ROSC (if pulses are difficult to palpate)
- Stopping and starting compressions requires 5-10 seconds to return to prior coronary perfusion pressure
- Bedside Ultrasound may prolong pulse checks
- Restart compressions on 10 second timer instead of per ultrasonagrapher
- Huis (2017) Resuscitation 119:95-98 PMID:28754527 [PubMed]
- ACD-CPR devices (e.g. Lucas) can maintain superior compressions throughout Resuscitation including Defibrillation
- Start charging the Defibrillator before CPR is paused (decreases hands-off time)
- Defibrillator fully charged when CPR paused
- Immediate shock can be delivered at rhythm check and CPR resumed
- Edelson (2010) Resuscitation 81(11):1521-6 +PMID:20807672 [PubMed]
- Hands on Defibrillation
- Rescuers are testing safely continuing manual compressions through biphasic Defibrillation
- Minimal rescuer electricity exposure
- Lloyd (2008) Circulation 117(19): 2510-4 [PubMed]
- Benefit to patient may not outweigh risk to rescuer
- No evidence for added benefit in ROSC for hands-on over 10 second CPR pause
- Risk of rescuer Electrocution
- Hunter in Majoewsky (2013) EM:Rap 13(2): 3-4
- Rescuers are testing safely continuing manual compressions through biphasic Defibrillation
- Do not stop Chest Compressions for procedures
- Intubation
- Central Lines
- Defibrillator charging
- Compressions should be hard and fast
- To avoid Fatigue and maintain adequate compressions, compressor switches with Ventilator every 2 minutes
- Allow full chest recoil and decompression
- Active Compression-Decompression devices (ACD-CPR, e.g. Lucas ) can be considered where available
- However insufficient evidence in 2010 to claim survival benefit (beyond anecdotal report)
- ACD-CPR anecdotally can sustain adequate cerebral circulation for patients to alert despite lethal rhythm
- ACD-CPR anecdotally may adequately sustain patients in lethal rhythm to transfer inter-hospital to a catheter lab
- Lucas training video
IV. Technique: Ventilations
- Ventilations should last 1 second per breath and demonstrate visible chest rise
- Untrained rescuers perform only compressions and no ventilations until EMS arrives
- Place Advanced Airway when able
- Can maintain airway with 2 intranasal and an Oral Airway until Advanced Airway available
-
Advanced Airway in position and confirmed
- Ventilations every 6-8 seconds (8-10 per minute) asynchronous to compressions
-
Impedance Threshold Device (e.g. ResQPOD)
- Attaches inline between positive pressure device (e.g. ambubag) and mask or ET Tube
- Assists in maintaining negative intrathoracic pressure which in turn increases venous return
- Associated with increased rate of Return of Spontaneous Circulation
- However more recent studies showed no benefit
V. Technique: Defibrillation
- Attach and use the AED or manual Defibrillator as soon as available
- Successful conversion from VF/Pulseless VT is directly related to earliest timing of Defibrillation
-
Defibrillation requires briefly clearing the patient for each shock
- Interruption of compressions should be minimized (<10 seconds)
- Active Compression-Decompression device (ACD-CPR, e.g. Lucas )
- May be continued through Defibrillation (need not be paused)
VI. Protocol: Newborns
- Sternal Compressions: Same as for infants except for alternative technique using 2 thumbs
- General
- Depress one third chest depth (1.5 inches or 4 cm)
- Do not lift fingers from chest between compressions
- Technique 1: Thumbs depress Sternum
- Hands encircle torso
- Fingers support spine
- Preferred (less tiring)
- Technique 2: Two fingers depress Sternum
- Use Index, Middle Finger placed below nipple level
- Preferred for larger newborns
- General
- Compression rate at least 100 times per minute
- Compression to ventilation ratio
- One rescuer: 30:2
- Two health care providers: 15:2 (compressor switches with Ventilator every 2 minutes)
VII. Protocol: Infants (age under 1 year)
- Sternal Compressions
- Use Index, Middle Finger placed below nipple level
- Depress 1/3 of chest depth (1.5 inches or 4 cm)
- Do not lift fingers from chest between compressions
- Compression rate ast least 100 times/minute
- Compression to Ventilation Ratio
- One rescuer: 30:2
- Two health care providers: 15:2 (compressor switches with Ventilator every 2 minutes)
VIII. Protocol: Children (1 to 8 years)
- Sternal Compressions
- Use heel of one hand placed above center of chest (superior to xiphoid)
- Depress at least 1/3 of chest depth (2 inches or 5 cm)
- Compression rate at least 100 times/minute
- Compression to Ventilation Ratio
- One rescuer: 30:2
- Two health care providers: 15:2 (compressor switches with Ventilator every 2 minutes)
IX. Protocol: Adults
- Sternal Compressions
- Use heel of two hands placed above center of chest (superior to xiphoid)
- Depress chest at least 2 inches or 5 cm
- Compression rate at least 100 times/minute
- Compress 30 times within 18 seconds
- Compression to Ventilation Ratio
- One or two rescuers: 30:2 (compressor switches with Ventilator every 2 minutes)
X. Monitoring: Quantitative Waveform Capnography (PETCO2) - indications of quality compressions
- PETCO2 <10 mmHg is associated with poor outcome
- PETCO2 should exceed 20 mmHg during diastole (relaxation phase)
- PETCO2 should show a pulsatile waveform that coincides with compressions
- PETCO2 >40 mmHg (typically abrupt onset) suggests Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)
XI. Prognosis: Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) in adults
- Criteria
- Witnessed arrest
- Initial rhythm
- Pulse regained in first 10 minutes of compression
- Interpretation: Any of three criteria above met
- Predicts survival to hospital discharge
- References
XII. Resources
- Lucas Device CPR
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines
XIII. References
- Weingart and Swaminathan in Herbert (2020) EM:Rap 20(7):8
- Orman and Bucher in Herbert (2016) EM:Rap 16(12): 12-3
- Mace (2013) Crit Dec Emerg Med 27(1): 11-20
- Shinar in Herbert (2012) EM:RAP 12(10): 4
- (2010) Guidelines for CPR and ECC [PubMed]
- (2005) Circulation 112(Suppl 112):IV [PubMed]
- (2000) Circulation, 102(Suppl I):86-9 [PubMed]