NCT01117896

CPR Rescuer Fatigue on Chest Compression Effectiveness

Effect of Rescuer Fatigue on Chest Compression Effectiveness

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 106 (actual)
• Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 22 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This prospective, randomized experimental trial to determine whether the quality of healthcare provider/rescuer chest compressions (CC) deteriorates at the same rate in pediatric models as compared to adult models. To determine the relationship between physiologic/metabolic markers of work in rescuers and chest compression deterioration, and to determine the effect of stepstool use on the quality of chest compressions and metabolic demand. To determine whether the quality of chest compressions deteriorates at the same rate in participants using a stepstool compared to those not using a stepstool.

Detailed description

Context: Pediatric cardiac arrests result in poor outcomes. Effective chest compressions improve survival in such patients. Unfortunately, compressions are generally inadequately performed and the quality of compressions given deteriorates rapidly with time. Current American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines call for faster and deeper chest compressions with minimization of interruptions. The effect of fatigue on operational performance while adhering strictly to these AHA guidelines is unknown. In addition, there is little pediatric data on rescuer fatigue and chest compression deterioration. Also, the use of a stepstool may affect the quality of chest compressions and may also have an impact on the fatigue of the rescuer. Understanding the biomechanics during optimal chest compression performance may prove useful in the recommendations of conditions and equipment for execution of more effective chest compressions during a cardiac arrest. We will aim to observe and understand the biomechanical qualities that allow for the most effective compressions. Objectives: 1. To determine whether the quality of chest compressions deteriorates at the same rate in pediatric models as compared to adult models. To determine the relationship between physiologic/metabolic markers of work in rescuers and chest compression deterioration. 2. To determine the effect of stepstool use on the quality of chest compressions and metabolic demand. To determine whether the quality of chest compressions deteriorates at the same rate in participants using a stepstool compared to those not using a stepstool. Study Design/Setting/Participants: This prospective, randomized experimental trial will be performed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Participants will be healthcare practitioners who routinely provide chest compressions in the course of their work. Lay practitioners will be excluded. Study Measures: Participants will be asked to perform continuous chest compressions on pediatric and adult sized manikins. Compression rate, depth, applied force as well as participant physiologic work efficiency and anaerobic threshold will be recorded. To evaluate the second objective, a new cohort of participants will perform continuous chest compressions on an adult sized manikin with and without a stepstool.. Compression rate, depth, applied force as well as participant physiologic work efficiency and anaerobic threshold will also be recorded. Videotaping of each subject will also be used for comparison of subjective assessment of chest compression quality and objective chest compression quality data.

Conditions

• Rescuer Fatigue During CPR

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Chest compression on adult and pedi manikins	Each participant will be required to perform chest compressions on all 2 manikins, one on each of 2 assigned days. Participants will be randomized to one of 2 groups differing only in the order of manikins compressed, i.e. pediatric-adult; adult-pediatric, etc.
OTHER	Use of stepstool during chest compressions	In the additional arm of the study, a new cohort of participants will use only the adult manikin on two separate sessions. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups differing only in the use of a stepstool.

Timeline

• Start date: 2007-05-01
• Primary completion: 2008-08-01
• Completion: 2012-07-01
• First posted: 2010-05-06
• Last updated: 2012-10-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States