Compressions

The 2010 resuscitation guidelines emphasize the importance of quality chest compression⁴ by recommending that clinicians focus on maintaining proper chest compression depth and rate. Compress the sternum to a depth of at least 2 inches with a rate of at least 100 compressions/min. Box 17-1 provides a summary of procedural recommendations for CPR. If possible, place a backboard under the victim to ensure appropriate thoracic compression. In addition, adjust the height of the bed or have the rescuer stand on top of a stepstool so that the entire weight of the rescuer above the waist is directed onto the patient’s sternum (Fig. 17-1A). This enhances the depth of compressions and helps prevent leaning on the patient’s chest between compressions, which is another key deficiency that has been widely observed. Extend the arms fully and place them perpendicular to the patient’s chest while making sure to pull away from the chest sufficiently between compressions to allow full chest recoil. Rotate rescuers aggressively (approximately every 2 to 3 minutes) to avoid deteriorating quality of compressions because of exhaustion. Properly delivered compressions are highly fatiguing, and rescuer bravado often interferes with the realization of declining CPR quality over time.

Minimize pauses in chest compressions because even short pauses have profound effects on coronary perfusion pressure and outcomes.¹³ As stated earlier, long pauses in chest compressions before delivery of a shock are associated with failure of defibrillation.³ Do not stop CPR to deliver medications because the drugs can be administered at the same time as the compressions. Keep pauses in chest compressions to a minimum (e.g., for procedures such as intubation or pulse checks).

Ventilations

Deliver ventilations at a rate of 8 to 10 breaths/min (see Fig. 17-1B). Hyperventilation (e.g., ventilation rates greater than 30/min) is common during resuscitation. To prevent unwittingly hyperventilating the patient, ask the rescuer who is providing ventilations to remove his or her hand completely off the bag-valve-mask apparatus between ventilations. The team leader should be vigilant in the observation of delivery of ventilations and should be ready to verbally prompt rescuers to ventilate the patient at the appropriate rate if hyperventilation is performed.

Pulse Checks

Pulse checks are generally performed too frequently during resuscitation efforts and take too much time. If a pulse cannot be readily felt within seconds, return to chest compressions as soon as possible. No studies have suggested that CPR is harmful to a patient with a very weak pulse, so use of a Doppler ultrasound device to detect the pulse is discouraged. If rescuers need ultrasound to find a pulse, the patient is at the very least markedly hypotensive and should probably be receiving CPR. Attempt pulse detection at the location of the carotid or femoral artery because peripheral pulse checks during profound shock or cardiac arrest states are notoriously unreliable. Frequently, a “pulse” can be detected during CPR itself; this phenomenon is often due to venous backpressure during compressions and does not indicate that compressions should be stopped, nor does it necessarily suggest that the compressions are of adequate quality.

Monitoring end-tidal CO₂ pressure (Petco₂) also affords an opportunity to detect a pulse during CPR. During ongoing resuscitation of a pulseless patient, capnography will generally remain low (often less than 20 mm Hg), which is indicative of low blood flow. If the patient achieves return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), a sharp increase in the Petco₂ value (usually greater than 25 to 30 mm Hg) is consistent with return of adequate perfusion.¹⁴

Leadership and Teamwork

Cardiac arrest resuscitations are often crowded, chaotic events filled with stress and anxiety. To maximize calm and efficiency and to ensure quality of care, establish a team protocol. Designate someone to be the leader of the resuscitation, and make sure that all participants are clearly aware of this designation. The designated team leader should be responsible for monitoring the rhythm, for giving orders to initiate and terminate chest compressions, and for delivery of drugs and other therapies. The team leader should be situated either at the head of the bed or at a place where you can direct the resuscitation. As the team leader, it is important that you do not actually perform compressions, ventilations, or other specific procedures unless absolutely necessary because you may quickly lose control of the resuscitation. Since most rescuers are unable to detect when their own quality of compressions is diminishing, observe CPR closely and order rescuer rotations throughout the duration of the resuscitation.¹⁵

New Directions: CC-CPR

Chest compression–only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CC-CPR) has been shown in a number of investigations to be as effective as standard CPR in resuscitation efforts initiated by members of the lay public.16,17 Give compressions at a rate of at least 100/min.

Because of its simplicity, CC-CPR minimizes pauses in chest compressions while maintaining proper rate and depth. Lay rescuers in the community may be less experienced with standard CPR and uncomfortable with the performance of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The simplicity of CC-CPR makes it relatively easy for first responders to initiate resuscitation efforts and for emergency medical dispatchers to guide lay rescuers remotely. The American Heart Association’s 2010 guidelines have shifted emphasis from “ABC” (“airway, breathing, compressions”) to “CAB” (“compressions, airway, breathing”) for lay rescuers. Their endorsement of “hands-only CPR” (a synonym for CC-CPR) educational programs reflects additional evidence that a focus on chest compressions during CPR may lead to an increase in bystander CPR, as well as improvements in patient outcomes.¹⁸ Recent investigations have shown that CC-CPR is associated with improved survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when performed by lay bystanders. A period of CC-CPR before intubation and rhythm evaluation also improves outcomes when used by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel.^19,20 The EMS community is likely to see more widespread adoption and use of CC-CPR by lay public educational programs in the upcoming years.

ACD-CPR

Active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ACD-CPR) is a variant of CPR in which the passive relaxation phase of CPR is converted into an active phase by means of a handheld or mechanical suction device, which can theoretically improve both myocardial and cerebral circulation when compared with traditional CPR.21,22 However, data on these devices are mixed; there have been studies on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using this technique that did not find any improvements in either initial outcome or survival to discharge, and as with many devices, there are instances when its application is impractical.^23,24

ITD

The impedance threshold device (ITD) optimizes chest compression hemodynamics via manipulation of intrathoracic pressure. From a practical standpoint, the ITD is a relatively simple device that is placed between the endotracheal tube and the bag-valve apparatus, much like a colorimetric Petco₂ detector, which is familiar to most ED clinicians (Fig. 17-2