Ventilation during resuscitation efforts for out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest.

TitleVentilation during resuscitation efforts for out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsBobrow BJ, Ewy GA
JournalCurr Opin Crit Care
Volume15
Issue3
Pagination228-33
Date Published2009 Jun
ISSN Number1531-7072
KeywordsCardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Emergency Medical Services, Heart Arrest, Humans, Respiration, Artificial
Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss recent findings surrounding the role of ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation for individuals with out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest.

RECENT FINDINGS: Active assisted ventilation during primary cardiac arrest may not always be beneficial and, in some circumstances, may lead to worse outcomes. By interrupting chest compressions and thereby decreasing vital organ perfusion, rescue breathing may be deleterious. In addition to the time required to administer breaths, the delay due to the insertion of advanced airways, even by well trained individuals, is often extensive. Furthermore, once intubation is completed, excessive hyperventilation occurs frequently, even by recently trained medical providers. Although most experts agree that excessive ventilation is harmful during out-of-hospital cardiac resuscitation, the optimal rate, tidal volume, timing, and technique of ventilation is still unknown. There is increasing evidence that, in patients with witnessed arrests and a shockable rhythm, the optimal form of ventilation is passive oxygen insufflation.

SUMMARY: Assisted ventilation during the initial provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is less important than previously believed. It is hypothesized that, by training prehospital medical providers to utilize passive oxygen insufflation for individuals with primary cardiac arrest, critical organ perfusion will increase and, therefore, survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will improve.

Alternate JournalCurr Opin Crit Care
PubMed ID19469024