EBQ:Trial of Continuous or Interrupted Chest Compressions during CPR

Under Review Journal Club Article
Graham Nichol et al. "Trial of Continuous or Interrupted Chest Compressions during CPR". New England Journal of Medicine. 2015. :.
PubMed Full text PDF

Clinical Question

Does continuous chest compressions improve outcomes vs the traditional 30:2 CPR format in patients with OHCA?

Conclusion

In patients with OHCA receiving CPR via EMS providers, continuous chest compressions did not result in improved survival to hospital discharge rates.

Major Points

Study Design

Cluster randomized trial with crossover, including 114 EMS agencies. Clusters of agencies were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to perform continuous or interrupted chest compressions. Twice per year each cluster was crossed over to the other strategy.

Population

Trial was run by the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC), which includes 10 clinical sites in North America and their associated regional EMS agencies. 8 ROC sites and 114 EMS agencies participated in this study.

Patient Demographics

Inclusion Criteria

  • Adults with non-trauma related OHCA

Exclusion Criteria

  • EMS witnessed arrest
  • Written advanced directive DNR
  • Traumatic injury, asphyxial cause of arrest, or uncontrolled bleeding/exsanguination
  • Pregnancy
  • Preexisting tracheostomy
  • Prisoners
  • Initial CPR performed by a nonparticipating EMS provider, use of mechanical CPR device, or advanced airway management prior to EMS arrival

Interventions

CCC Group

  • Continuous chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute
  • Asynchronous positive pressure ventilations delivered at a rate of 10 ventilations per minute

30:2 Group

  • Chest compressions that were interrupted for ventilations at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 ventilations
  • Ventilations were to be given with positive pressure during a pause in compressions of less than 5 seconds in duration

Outcomes

Primary Outcome

Secondary Outcomes

Subgroup analysis

Criticisms & Further Discussion

External Links

See Also

Funding

Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Canadian Institutes of of Health Research, and others.

References