Improved Retention of Chest Compression Psychomotor Skills With Brief "Rolling Refresher" Training.

INTRODUCTION: High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical to improve survival from cardiac arrest. However, cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and psychomotor skill proficiency are transient. We hypothesized that brief, in situ refresher training will improve chest compression (CC) psychomotor skill retention for bedside providers. METHODS: Nurses completed a baseline skill evaluation of CC quality 6 months after traditional basic life support recertification. Data collected using ResusciAnne with SkillReporter included the following: CC depth, rate, complete release, and correct hand position. Total compliance was defined as 100% CC with depth of 50 mm or greater, rate of 100/min or greater, and more than 90% complete release. After the baseline evaluation, the subjects completed "Rolling Refresher" (RR) CC psychomotor training using audiovisual feedback every 2 to 3 months for 12 months until 30 seconds of CCs fulfilling total compliance criteria was achieved. Chest compression quality evaluations were repeated twice ("RR 6 month" and "RR 12 month" evaluation) after implementation of RR program. RESULTS: Thirty-seven providers enrolled and completed the baseline evaluation. Mean depth was 36.3 (9.7) mm, and 8% met criteria for depth, 35% for rate, and 5% for total compliance. After RRs were implemented, CC quality improved significantly at RR 6-month evaluation: odds ratio for meeting criteria were the following: depth of 35.1 (95% confidence interval = 2.5496, P = 0.009) and total compliance of 22.3 (95% confidence interval = 2.1239, P = 0.010). There was no difference in CC quality at RR 12-month versus RR 6-month evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Retention of CC psychomotor skill quality is limited to 6 months after traditional basic life support recertification. Rolling Refresher CC training can significantly improve retention of CC psychomotor skills. Whether CC skills are improved, maintained, or deteriorate after 12 months of Refresher training and optimal frequency of Refreshers is unknown.

Redesign of an Open-System Oxygen Face Mask With Mainstream Capnometer for Children.

BACKGROUND: Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2 ) monitoring in children is important to detect apnea or hypopnea early to intervene before hypoxemia develops. Monitoring PETCO2 in children without a tracheal tube is challenging. To improve PETCO2 measurement accuracy in a commercially available mask with a mainstream CO2 detector, we implemented design changes with deform-and-hold shaping technology and anterior-posterior adjustment of the expiratory gas flow cup. METHODS: Two sizes of redesigned face masks (small for 7-20 kg, medium for 10-40 kg) were evaluated. Initial bench testing used a simulator modeling a spontaneously breathing infant and child with a natural airway. An infant/child manikin head was connected to the breathing lung simulator. A mass flow controller provided expiratory CO2. Mask fit was then evaluated on healthy human subjects to identify anatomical features associated with good fit, defined as square shape capnography waveform during expiration. A 3-dimensional digital scan was used to quantify anatomical features. The gaps between face mask rims and facial surface were manually measured. RESULTS: Bench testing revealed a PETCO2 difference of 3.4 ± 1.5 mm Hg between a measured PETCO2 by the redesigned mask and CO2 concentration at trachea, as compared with 6.7 ± 6.2 mm Hg between PETCO2 measured by nasal cannula and trachea (P < .001). In the human mask fit study, 35 children (13 ± 4 kg) with the small mask and 38 (24 ± 8 kg) with the medium mask were evaluated. Capnography tracing was successfully obtained in 86% of the small and 100% of the medium masks. In children with small-size masks, the gap between the face mask rim and the child's face was not statistically different among those with good mask fit and without (1.0 ± 1.5 mm vs 1.4 ± 1.9 mm, P = .73). CONCLUSIONS: PETCO2 measurement by a redesigned open-system face mask with a mainstream CO2 detector was accurate in the bench setting. The redesigned face mask can attain good mask fit and accurate capnography tracings in the majority of infants and children.

A pragmatic checklist to identify pediatric ICU patients at risk for cardiac arrest or code bell activation.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital cardiac arrest is a rare event associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The ability to identify the ICU patients at risk for cardiac arrest could allow the clinical team to prepare staff and equipment in anticipation. METHODS: This pilot study was completed at a large tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit to determine the feasibility of a simple checklist of clinical variables to predict deterioration. The daily checklist assessed patient risk for critical deterioration defined as cardiac arrest or code bell activation within 24h of the checklist screen. The Phase I checklist was developed by expert consensus and evaluated to determine standard diagnostic test performance. A modified Phase II checklist was developed to prospectively test the feasibility and bedside provider "number needed to train". RESULTS: For identifying patients requiring code bell activation, both checklists demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% with specificity of 76.0% during Phase I and 97.7% during Phase II. The positive likelihood ratio improved from 4.2 to 43.7. For identifying patients that had a cardiac arrest within 24h, the Phase I and II checklists demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% with specificity again improving from 75.7% to 97.6%. There was an improved positive likelihood ratio from 4.1 in Phase I to 41.9 in Phase II, with improvement of "number needed to train" from 149 to 7.4 providers. CONCLUSIONS: A novel high-risk clinical indicators checklist is feasible and provides timely and accurate identification of the ICU patients at risk for cardiac arrest or code bell activation.

Factors Associated with Adverse Events during Tracheal Intubation in the NICU.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adverse tracheal intubation-associated events (TIAEs) and associated patient, practice, and intubator characteristics in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of adverse TIAEs and to identify factors associated with TIAEs in the NICU. METHODS: Single-site prospective observational cohort study of infants who were intubated in a level 4 referral NICU between September 1, 2011 and November 30, 2013. A standardized pediatric airway registry was implemented to document patient, practice, and intubator characteristics and outcomes of intubation encounters. The primary outcome was adverse TIAEs. RESULTS: Adverse TIAEs occurred in 153 of 701 (22%) tracheal intubation encounters. Factors that were independently associated with lower incidence of TIAEs in logistic regression included attending physician (vs. resident; odds ratio (OR) 0.4, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.98) and use of paralytic medication (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.81). Severe oxygen desaturations (≥ 20% decrease in oxygen saturation) occurred in 51.1% of encounters and were more common in tracheal intubations performed by residents (62.8%), compared to fellows (43.2%) or attendings (47.5%; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Adverse TIAEs and severe oxygen desaturation events are common in the NICU setting. Modifiable risk factors associated with TIAEs identified include intubator training level and use of paralytic medications.

Blood Pressure Directed Booster Trainings Improve Intensive Care Unit Provider Retention of Excellent Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills.

OBJECTIVES: Brief, intermittent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training sessions, "Booster Trainings," improve CPR skill acquisition and short-term retention. The objective of this study was to incorporate arterial blood pressure (ABP) tracings into Booster Trainings to improve CPR skill retention. We hypothesized that ABP-directed CPR "Booster Trainings" would improve intensive care unit (ICU) provider 3-month retention of excellent CPR skills without need for interval retraining. METHODS: A CPR manikin creating a realistic relationship between chest compression depth and ABP was used for training/testing. Thirty-six ICU providers were randomized to brief, bedside ABP-directed CPR manikin skill retrainings: (1) Booster Plus (ABP visible during training and testing) versus (2) Booster Alone (ABP visible only during training, not testing) versus (3) control (testing, no intervention). Subjects completed skill tests pretraining (baseline), immediately after training (acquisition), and then retention was assessed at 12 hours, 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was retention of excellent CPR skills at 3 months. Excellent CPR was defined as systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher and compression rate 100 to 120 per minute. RESULTS: Overall, 14 of 24 (58%) participants acquired excellent CPR skills after their initial training (Booster Plus 75% vs 50% Booster Alone, P = 0.21). Adjusted for age, ABP-trained providers were 5.2× more likely to perform excellent CPR after the initial training (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.3-21.2; P = 0.02), and to retain these skills at 12 hours (adjusted odds ratio, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3-14.9; P = 0.018) and 3 months (adjusted odds ratio, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2-13.9; P = 0.023) when compared to baseline performance. CONCLUSIONS: The ABP-directed CPR booster trainings improved ICU provider 3-month retention of excellent CPR skills without the need for interval retraining.

2010 American Heart Association recommended compression depths during pediatric in-hospital resuscitations are associated with survival.

AIM: Gaps exist in pediatric resuscitation knowledge due to limited data collected during cardiac arrest in real children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) recommended chest compression (CC) depth (≥51 mm) and survival following pediatric resuscitation attempts. METHODS: Single-center prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed observational study of children (>1 year) who received CCs between October 2006 and September 2013 in the intensive care unit (ICU) or emergency department (ED) at a tertiary care children's hospital. Multivariate logistic regression models controlling for calendar year and known potential confounders were used to estimate the association between 2010 AHA depth compliance and survival outcomes. The primary outcome was 24-h survival. The primary predictor variable was event AHA depth compliance, prospectively defined as an event with ≥60% of 30-s epochs achieving an average CC depth ≥51 mm during the first 5 min of the resuscitation. RESULTS: There were 89 CC events, 87 with quantitative CPR data collected (23 AHA depth compliant). AHA depth compliant events were associated with improved 24-h survival on both univariate analysis (70% vs. 16%, p<0.001) and after controlling for potential confounders (calendar year of arrest, gender, first documented rhythm; aOR 10.3; CI(95): 2.75-38.8; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 2010 AHA compliant chest compression depths (≥51 mm) are associated with higher 24-h survival compared to shallower chest compression depths, even after accounting for potentially confounding patient and event factors.

First quantitative analysis of cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality during in-hospital cardiac arrests of young children.

AIM: The objective of this study is to report, for the first time, quantitative data on CPR quality during the resuscitation of children under 8 years of age. We hypothesized that the CPR performed would often not achieve 2010 Pediatric Basic Life Support (BLS) Guidelines, but would improve with the addition of audiovisual feedback. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort evaluating CPR quality during chest compression (CC) events in children between 1 and 8 years of age. CPR recording defibrillators collected CPR data (rate (CC/min), depth (mm), CC fraction (CCF), leaning (%>2.5 kg.)). Audiovisual feedback was according to 2010 Guidelines in a subset of patients. The primary outcome, "excellent CPR" was defined as a CC rate ≥ 100 and ≤ 120 CC/min, depth ≥ 50 mm, CCF >0.80, and <20% of CC with leaning. RESULTS: 8 CC events resulted in 285 thirty-second epochs of CPR (15,960 CCs). Percentage of epochs achieving targets was 54% (153/285) for rate, 19% (54/285) for depth, 88% (250/285) for CCF, 79% (226/285) for leaning, and 8% (24/285) for excellent CPR. The median percentage of epochs per event achieving targets increased with audiovisual feedback for rate [88 (IQR: 79, 94) vs. 39 (IQR 18, 62) %; p=0.043] and excellent CPR [28 (IQR: 7.2, 52) vs. 0 (IQR: 0, 1) %; p=0.018]. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital pediatric CPR often does not meet 2010 Pediatric BLS Guidelines, but compliance is better when audiovisual feedback is provided to rescuers.

Simplified dispatcher instructions improve bystander chest compression quality during simulated pediatric resuscitation.

AIM: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality is associated with survival outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simplified dispatcher CPR instructions to improve the chest compression (CC) quality during simulated pediatric cardiac arrest in public places. METHODS: Adult bystanders recruited in public places were randomized to receive one of two scripted dispatcher CPR instructions: (1) "Push as hard as you can" (PUSH HARD) or (2) "Push approximately 2 inches" (TWO INCHES). A pediatric manikin with realistic CC characteristics (similar to a 6-year-old child), and a CPR recording defibrillator was used for quantitative CC data collection during a 2-min simulated pediatric scenario. The primary outcome was average CC depth treated as a continuous variable. Secondary outcomes included compliance with American Heart Association (AHA) CPR targets. Analysis was by two-sided unpaired t-test and Chi-square test, as appropriate. RESULTS: 128 out of 140 providers screened met inclusion/exclusion criteria and all 128 consented. The average CC depth (mean (SEM)) was greater in PUSH HARD compared to TWO INCHES (43 (1) vs. 36 (1) mm, p<0.01) and met AHA targets more often (39% (25/64) vs. 20% (13/64), p=0.02). CC rates trended higher in the PUSH HARD group (93 (4) vs. 82 (4) CC/min, p=0.06). More providers did not achieve full chest recoil with PUSH HARD compared to TWO INCHES (53% (34/64) vs. 75% (48/64), p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Simplified dispatcher assisted pediatric CPR instructions: "Push as hard as you can" was associated with lay bystanders providing deeper and faster CCs on a simulated, 6-year-old pediatric manikin. However, percentage of providers leaning between CC increased. The potential effect of these simplified instructions in younger children remains unanswered.

Pushing harder, pushing faster, minimizing interruptions but falling short of 2010 cardiopulmonary resuscitation targets during in-hospital pediatric and adolescent resuscitation.

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of instituting the 2010 Basic Life Support Guidelines on in-hospital pediatric and adolescent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. We hypothesized that quality would improve, but that targets for chest compression (CC) depth would be difficult to achieve. METHODS: Prospective in-hospital observational study comparing CPR quality 24 months before and after release of the 2010 Guidelines. CPR recording/feedback-enabled defibrillators collected CPR data (rate (CC/min), depth (mm), CC fraction (CCF, %), leaning (%>2.5kg)). Audiovisual feedback for depth was: 2005, ≥38mm; 2010, ≥50mm; for rate: 2005, ≥90 and ≤120CC/min; 2010, ≥100 and ≤120CC/min. The primary outcome was average event depth compared with Student's t-test. RESULTS: 45 CPR events (25 before; 20 after) occurred, resulting in 1336 thirty-second epochs (909 before; 427 after). Compared to 2005, average event depth (50±13mm vs. 43±9mm; p=0.047), rate (113±11CC/min vs. 104±8CC/min; p<0.01), and CCF (0.94 [0.93, 0.96] vs. 0.9 [0.85, 0.94]; p=0.013) increased during 2010. CPR epochs during the 2010 period more likely to meet Guidelines for CCF (OR 1.7; CI95: 1.2-2.4; p<0.01), but less likely for rate (OR 0.23; CI95: 0.12-0.44; p<0.01), and depth (OR 0.31; CI95: 0.12-0.86; p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Institution of the 2010 Guidelines was associated with increased CC depth, rate, and CC fraction; yet, achieving 2010 targets for rate and depth was difficult.

Forensic analysis of crib mattress properties on pediatric CPR quality--can we balance pressure reduction with CPR effectiveness?

INTRODUCTION: Single mode, pressure reduction (PR) crib mattresses are increasingly employed in hospitals to prevent skin injury and infection. However, single mode PR mattresses risk large mattress deflection during CPR chest compressions, potentially leading to inadequate chest compressions. HYPOTHESIS: New, dual mode PR crib mattress technology provides less mattress deflection during chest compressions (CCs) with similar PR characteristics for prevention of skin injury. METHODS: Epochs of 50 high-quality CCs (target sternum-spine compression depth ≥ 38 mm) guided by real-time force/deflection sensor (FDS) feedback were delivered to CPR manikin with realistic CC characteristics on two PR crib mattresses for four conditions: (1) single mode+backboard; (2) dual mode+backboard; (3) single mode-no backboard; and (4) dual mode-no backboard. Mattress displacement was measured using surface reference accelerometers. Mattress displacement ≥ 5 mm was prospectively defined as minimal clinically important difference. PR qualities of both mattresses were assessed by tissue interface pressure mapping. RESULTS: During simulated high quality CC, single mode had significantly more mattress displacement compared to dual mode (mean difference 16.5 ± 1.4mm, p<0.0001) with backboard. This difference was greater when no backboard was used (mean difference 31.7 ± 1.5mm, p<0.0001). Both single mode and dual mode met PR industry guidelines (mean surface pressure <50 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: Chest compressions delivered on dual mode pressure reduction crib mattresses resulted in substantially smaller mattress deflection compared to single mode pressure reduction mattresses. Skin pressure reduction qualities of dual mode pressure reduction crib mattress were maintained. We recommend that backboards continue to be used in order to mitigate mattress deflection during CPR on soft mattresses.

Ability of code leaders to recall CPR quality errors during the resuscitation of older children and adolescents.

AIM: Performance of high quality CPR is associated with improved resuscitation outcomes. This study investigates code leader ability to recall CPR error during post-event interviews when CPR recording/audiovisual feedback-enabled defibrillators are deployed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Physician code leaders were interviewed within 24h of 44 in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrests to assess their ability to recall if CPR error occurred during the event. Actual CPR quality was assessed using quantitative recording/feedback-enabled defibrillators. CPR error was defined as an overall average event chest compression (CC) rate <95/min, depth < 38 mm, ventilation rate >10/min, or any interruptions in CPR >10s. We hypothesized that code leaders would recall error when it actually occurred ≥ 75% of the time when assisted by audiovisual alerts from a CPR recording feedback-enabled defibrillators (analysis by χ(2)). RESULTS: 810 min from 44 cardiac arrest events yielded 40 complete data sets (actual and interview); ventilation data was available in 24. Actual CPR error was present in 3/40 events for rate, 4/40 for depth, 32/40 for interruptions >10s, and 17/24 for ventilation frequency. In post-event interviews, code leaders recalled these errors in 0/3 (0%) for rate, 0/4 (0%) for depth, and 19/32 (59%) for interruptions >10s. Code leaders recalled these CPR quality errors less than 75% of the time for rate (p=0.06), for depth (p<0.01), and for CPR interruption (p=0.04). Quantification of errors not recalled: missed rate error median=94 CC/min (IQR 93-95), missed depth error median=36 mm (IQR 35.5-36.5), missed CPR interruption >10s median=18s (IQR 14.4-28.9). Code leaders did recall the presence of excessive ventilation in 16/17 (94%) of events (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: Despite assistance by CPR recording/feedback-enabled defibrillators, pediatric code leaders fail to recall important CPR quality errors for CC rate, depth, and interruptions during post-cardiac arrest interviews.

Comparison of relative and actual chest compression depths during cardiac arrest in children, adolescents, and young adults.

AIM: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend specific chest compression (CC) target depths for children. We quantitatively describe relative anterior-posterior diameter (APD) depth, actual depth, and force of CCs during real CPR events in children. METHODS: CC depth and force were recorded during real CPR events in children ≥8 years using FDA-approved CC sensor. Patient chest APD was measured at conclusion of each CPR event. CC data was stratified and analyzed according to age (pre-puberty, 8-14 years; post-puberty, 15+ years). Relative (% APD) and actual CC depth, corrected for mattress deflection, were assessed and compared with American Heart Association (AHA) 2005 and 2010 pediatric CPR guidelines. RESULTS: 35 events in 32 subjects included 16,158 CCs for data analysis: 16 pre-puberty (CCs=7484, age 11.9±2 years, APD 164.6±25.1 mm); 19 post-puberty (CCs=8674, age 18.0±2.7 years, APD 196.5±30.4 mm). After correction for mattress deflection, 92% of CC delivered to pre-puberty were <1/3 relative APD and 60% of CC were <38 mm actual depth. Mean actual CC depth (36.2±9.6 mm vs. 36.8±9.9 mm, p=0.64), mean relative APD (22.5%±7.0% vs. 19.5±6.7%, p=0.13), and mean CC force (30.7±7.6 kg vs. 33.6±9.4 kg, p=0.07) were not significantly less in pre-puberty vs. post-puberty. CONCLUSIONS: During in-hospital cardiac arrest of children ≥8 years, CCs delivered by resuscitation teams were frequently <1/3 relative APD and <38 mm actual depth after mattress deflection correction, below pediatric and adult target guidelines. Mean CC actual depth and force were not significantly different in pre-puberty and post-puberty. Additional investigation to determine depth of CCs to optimize hemodynamics and outcomes is needed to inform future CPR guidelines.