Citations

Background: Bystander CPR (BCPR) strongly influences survival from OHCA yet is provided in a minority of cases. The AHA has promulgated guidelines on provision of pre-arrival Hands-Only dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR (TCPR) instructions to increase the proportion of arrests receiving early BCPR; however, the impact of those guidelines is unknown. Objective: Evaluate the impact of implementing the TCPR guidelines on: recognition of OHCA by 911 dispatchers, time from call receipt to start of TCPR instructions, time to first chest compression (CC), prehospital ROSC, survival, and favorable neuro outcome (FNO). Methods: Dispatch audio records of OHCA in 3 large dispatch centers in Arizona (10/10-3/13) were reviewed using a standardized time-stamp methodology. Data were entered into a structured TCPR database linked to EMS and hospital outcome data. Intervention: Implementation of a 3.5-hour staff training and a guideline-based change in dispatch protocol. Results: There were 860 pre-implementation (P1) and 799 post-implementation (P2) cases. A total of 1265 cases met inclusion criteria. Outcome data collection and linkage is ongoing: ROSC, survival and neuro outcomes were available in 26%, 24% and 22% of cases, respectively. The proportion of cases receiving TCPR increased: P1 (28.7%); P2 (49.9%, p<0.001). Median time to beginning TCPR instructions decreased significantly: P1 (153 sec); P2 (129 sec, p<0.001) as did median time to first CC: P1 (198 sec); P2 (162 sec, p<0.001). Outcomes - see Table. Conclusion: The implementation of the AHA pre-arrival TCPR guidelines was associated with a significant improvement in the time-to-CPR instructions and time-to-first CCs and rate of provision of telephone-assisted bystander CPR. This small, preliminary analysis of prehospital ROSC, survival, and FNO revealed higher, but statistically non-significant, rates after the interventions.

Background: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) significantly improves survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Telecommunicator CPR (TCPR) has been shown to increase BCPR rates, yet TCPR performance varies widely. We assess whether a bundled TCPR protocol, training, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) intervention improves TCPR performance. Methods: The intervention was implemented at a regional 9-1-1 dispatch center and had three main components: (1) the installation of the AHA-recommended 2-question TCPR protocol, (2) training to enhance telecommunicator OHCA recognition and (3) CQI with system and case-level feedback. Training included a two-hour lecture, 30 minutes of video training, and one hour of simulation training. Audio recordings of suspected OHCAs from pre (P1, 10/5/10 - 11/6/11) and post-intervention (P2, 11/7/11 - 11/4/13) periods were collected by searching center archives for calls originally processed as cardiac arrests. Recordings were analyzed according to six key TCPR metrics. Times to telecommunicator recognition of cardiac arrest, start of TCPR instructions, and initiation of chest compressions were measured using a standardized timestamp format. Results: Rates of OHCA recognition (80% to 95%, p<0.0001), TCPR instructions started (32% to 72%, p<0.0001), and bystander chest compressions initiated (18% to 70%, p<0.001) all increased significantly. Reductions in the time from call receipt to the start of TCPR instructions (176s to 133s, p<0.0001) and to the start of compressions (265s to 162s, p<0.0001) were also observed. Conclusion: This bundled protocol, training and CQI intervention was associated with a significant increase in TCPR rates and a reduction in the time to first chest compression.

Background: Bystander CPR (BCPR) and telephone CPR (TCPR) are associated with improved OHCA outcomes. It has been shown that BCPR increases the proportion of patients with an initial shockable cardiac rhythm (VF/VT) when encountered by EMS. It is unknown whether TCPR does the same. Objective: To assess whether TCPR is independently associated with an increase in initial shockable cardiac rhythms during OHCA. Methods: Data from 9-1-1 audio recordings, first care EMS reports and hospital records were linked for OHCAs of presumed cardiac origin (1/2011-12/2014). Three cohorts were analyzed: TCPR, BCPR or no CPR. Using no CPR as the reference group, we assessed whether TCPR and BCPR were independently associated with initial shockable rhythms in a logistic regression model controlling for gender, event location, witness status and EMS response interval. Results: After exclusions, 2715 adult OHCA events with linked outcome data were analyzed (median age: 63; male: 66.8%; 33.3% witnessed arrest). Median response interval was 5 min. The BCPR rate (lay rescuer CPR without telephone instructions) was 24.8% and survival in this group was 15.4%. The TCPR rate (lay rescuer CPR with telephone instructions) was 40.2% and survival in this group was 11.7%. For the no-CPR group, 20.5% had an initial shockable rhythm. For the BCPR group, 34.6 % had an initial shockable rhythm. For the TCPR group, 23.2% had an initial shockable rhythm. Provision of BCPR and of TCPR were each independently associated with shockable rhythms [aOR (BCPR) = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.33-2.17, p=0.0001; aOR (TCPR) = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.04-1.63, p=0.0001]. Conclusion: The provision of both BCPR and TCPR were independently associated with an increased rate of initial shockable cardiac rhythms and an increase in survival to hospital discharge compared to no CPR.

Background: Abnormal breathing, or “gasping,” frequently occurs during cardiac arrest and has been associated with increased survival. During 9-1-1 calls, early recognition of gasping may allow dispatchers to identify OHCA and to start CPR instructions promptly. Objective: To characterize lay rescuers’ descriptions of abnormal breathing during OHCA. Methods: 9-1-1 audio recordings of 4,279 confirmed OHCAs (10/10-7/14) in Arizona were reviewed by program personnel. Terms used by lay rescuers to describe victims’ breathing were recorded in a structured database. Results: Abnormal breathing (as opposed to “not breathing”) was described in 542/4279 (13%) calls. There were 623 verbal descriptions. A total of 50 different terms were used. However, the top 8 accounted for 83% and the remaining 42 descriptions (“Other”) comprised only 17% of all terms used. “Gasping” was the most commonly used term (30%; 187/623), followed by “snoring” (15%; 95/623; Figure). Conclusion: Lay rescuers used a wide variety of terms to describe abnormal breathing in documented OHCA. However, 8 terms accounted for 83% of descriptions. Familiarizing 9-1-1 telecommunicators with the most commonly used terms may improve the accuracy of recognition and hasten the identification of OHCA.

Background: Bystander CPR (BCPR) increases survival from OHCA yet is provided in a minority of cases. The AHA has promulgated guidelines on the provision of pre-arrival Telephone CPR (TCPR) instructions and measurement to increase the proportion of BCPR; however, the impact of those guidelines on survival is unknown. Objective: To describe the impact of a comprehensive bundle of 9-1-1 TCPR protocol, training, data collection, and feedback on BCPR and survival from OHCA across the state of Arizona. Methods: 9-1-1 audio recordings of confirmed OHCAs and suspected OHCAs (10/2010-6/2013) in 7 large 9-1-1 centers were reviewed using a standardized time-stamp methodology linked with EMS and hospital process and outcome data. There were 2343 pre-implementation cases (P1) and 2291 cases post-implementation of a bundle of care (P2) that included staff training and guideline-based protocol changes, data collection and feedback to providers. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess outcomes between P1 and P2. Results: There were 2532 OHCAs [1232 P1, 1300 P2; 64% male, median age 62 (IQR: 47-74)]. 83% of cases were identified in P1 compared with 89% in P2 (p<0.001). The rate of telephone-assisted BCPR went from 44% in P1 to 62% in P2 (p<0.001). Time to beginning TCPR instructions decreased from a median of 144 sec (P1) to 126 in P2 (p<0.001). Time to first chest compression also decreased (P1: 178; P2: 155; p<0.001). Outcome data are currently available for 64% of confirmed OHCAs (1630 patient outcomes with 1619 neuro outcomes). Survival was significantly higher in P2 (11.2%) compared to P1 (7.9%; p=0.023), as was good neuro outcome (CPC-1 or 2: 7.7% P2 vs. 4.8% P1 p=0.018). After adjusting for witnessed arrest, shockable rhythms, age, and sex, both survival and good neuro outcome were still significantly higher in P2 vs. P1 [adjusted odds ratios: survival = 1.5 (95% 1.1-2.1); good neuro outcome = 1.7 (95% 1.1-2.6)]. Conclusion: The implementation of a comprehensive statewide TCPR bundle was associated with significant improvements in the rates of telephone-assisted BCPR, survival and good neurologic outcome after OHCA.

Background Emergency 9‐1‐1 callers use a wide range of terms to describe abnormal breathing in persons with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest ( OHCA ). These breathing descriptors can obstruct the telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) process. Methods and Results We conducted an observational study of emergency call audio recordings linked to confirmed OHCA s in a statewide Utstein‐style database. Breathing descriptors fell into 1 of 8 groups (eg, gasping, snoring). We divided the study population into groups with and without descriptors for abnormal breathing to investigate the impact of these descriptors on patient outcomes and telephone CPR process. Callers used descriptors in 459 of 2411 cases (19.0%) between October 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. Survival outcome was better when the caller used a breathing descriptor (19.6% versus 8.8%, P <0.0001), with an odds ratio of 1.63 (95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.25). After exclusions, 379 of 459 cases were eligible for process analysis. When callers described abnormal breathing, the rates of telecommunicator OHCA recognition, CPR instruction, and telephone CPR were lower than when callers did not use a breathing descriptor (79.7% versus 93.0%, P <0.0001; 65.4% versus 72.5%, P =0.0078; and 60.2% versus 66.9%, P =0.0123, respectively). The time interval between call receipt and OHCA recognition was longer when the caller used a breathing descriptor (118.5 versus 73.5 seconds, P <0.0001). Conclusions Descriptors of abnormal breathing are associated with improved outcomes but also with delays in the identification of OHCA . Familiarizing telecommunicators with these descriptors may improve the telephone CPR process including OHCA recognition for patients with increased probability of survival.