Impact of a “Team-focused CPR” Protocol on Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival in a Rural EMS System

Background: More than 300,000 persons in the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year. The American Heart Association emphasizes on the rapid, effective delivery of cardiac arrest interventions by bystanders and emergency medical services (EMS) on scene. In July 2013, the EMS of Randolph County, a rural county in central North Carolina, implemented a team-focused cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) protocol. The protocol emphasized early chest compressions and resuscitation on scene until the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or until efforts were deemed futile. Methods: Data were collected on all cardiac out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2014. Outcomes for the year before the institution of the team-focused CPR protocol were compared with rates for the year following implementation. Results: A significantly higher proportion of patients achieved ROSC after protocol implementation: 25/38 [66%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 49%–80%] versus 19/67 (28%; 95% CI, 18–41%, P
Source: Critical Pathways in Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Studies Source Type: research