The influence of scenario-based training and real-time audiovisual feedback on out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality and survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We assess whether an initiative to optimize out-of-hospital provider cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality is associated with improved CPR quality and increased survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS: This was a before-after study of consecutive adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Data were obtained from out-of-hospital forms and defibrillators. Phase 1 included 18 months with real-time audiovisual feedback disabled (October 2008 to March 2010). Phase 2 included 16 months (May 2010 to September 2011) after scenario-based training of 373 professional rescuers and real-time audiovisual feedback enabled. The effect of interventions on survival to hospital discharge was assessed with multivariable logistic regression. Multiple imputation of missing data was used to analyze the effect of interventions on CPR quality. RESULTS: Analysis included 484 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients (phase 1 232; phase 2 252). Median age was 68 years (interquartile range 56-79); 66.5% were men. CPR quality measures improved significantly from phase 1 to phase 2: Mean chest compression rate decreased from 128 to 106 chest compressions per minute (difference -23 chest compressions; 95% confidence interval [CI] -26 to -19 chest compressions); mean chest compression depth increased from 1.78 to 2.15 inches (difference 0.38 inches; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.47 inches); median chest compression fraction increased from 66.2% to 83.7% (difference 17.6%; 95% CI 15.0% to 20.1%); median preshock pause decreased from 26.9 to 15.5 seconds (difference -11.4 seconds; 95% CI -15.7 to -7.2 seconds), and mean ventilation rate decreased from 11.7 to 9.5/minute (difference -2.2/minute; 95% CI -3.9 to -0.5/minute). All-rhythms survival increased from phase 1 to phase 2 (20/231, 8.7% versus 35/252, 13.9%; difference 5.2%; 95% CI -0.4% to 10.8%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.72 (95% CI 1.15 to 6.41), controlling for initial rhythm, witnessed arrest, age, minimally interrupted cardiac resuscitation protocol compliance, and provision of therapeutic hypothermia. Witnessed arrests/shockable rhythms survival was 26.3% (15/57) for phase 1 and 55.6% (20/36) for phase 2 (difference 29.2%; 95% CI 9.4% to 49.1%). CONCLUSION: Implementation of resuscitation training combined with real-time audiovisual feedback was independently associated with improved CPR quality, an increase in survival, and favorable functional outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Pre-operative platelet-bound CD40 ligand is probably associated with peri-operative cardiac events in hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Peri-operative cardiac events are common and associated with significant morbidity. A predictive biomarker would assist in pre-operative risk stratification of surgical patients. This study explored the utility of pre-operative measurements of platelet-bound CD40 ligand and other biomarkers for predicting peri-operative cardiac events in total hip or knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 62 patients prior to surgery and tested for the biomarkers platelet CD40 ligand, platelet factor V/Va, platelet P-selectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, B-type natriuretic peptide and soluble CD40 ligand. The Revised Cardiac Risk Index was also calculated. Patients were then followed up prospectively and screened for peri-operative cardiac events by means of ECG, serial troponin I, a cardiologist's review and an interview at 6 weeks post operation. RESULTS: Six of 62 (9.7%) patients had a cardiac event. Patients who experienced a cardiac event had higher pre-operative platelet CD40 ligand levels as measured by flow cytometry [median 0.55% vs. 0.29% (P = 0.02)]. In this sized sample, platelet CD40L was the only biomarker independently associated with cardiac events (P = 0.02), the area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve being 0.79. CONCLUSION: In a study of this number of patients, of the six biomarkers tested, only platelet CD40 ligand was found to have a probable association with peri-operative cardiac events in hip and knee arthroplasty.