Open Access Emergency Medicine (Apr 2020)
Major Differences in the Use of Protocols for Dispatcher-Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among ILCOR Member Countries
Abstract
Stinne Eika Rasmussen,1 Mette Amalie Nebsbjerg,1 Katrine Bjørnshave Bomholt,1 Lise Qvirin Krogh,1 Kristian Krogh,1– 3 Jonas Agerlund Povlsen,4 Bo Løfgren1,4– 6 1Research Center for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, NE 8200, Denmark; 2Center for Health Sciences Education, Aarhus University, Aarhus, NE 8200, Denmark; 3Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, NE 8200, Denmark; 4Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, NE 8200, Denmark; 5Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, NE 8200, Denmark; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Regional Hospital of Randers, Randers, NE 8930, DenmarkCorrespondence: Bo LøfgrenDepartment of Medicine, Regional Hospital Randers, Skovlyvej 15, Randers, NE 8930, DenmarkTel +45 78420000Email [email protected] and Purpose: Dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) increases the rate of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). DA-CPR is recommended by resuscitation councils globally and it has been shown that the general public expects to receive pre-arrival instructions while waiting for help. A scientific advisory from the American Heart Association identifies standardized and structured DA-CPR protocols as important to increase bystander CPR rates. This study aims to investigate whether different International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) member countries use DA-CPR protocols and to compare protocol contents between countries.Methods: All resuscitation councils forming ILCOR were inquired by email to provide a copy of their DA-CPR protocol, and to state whether this protocol was used by all emergency dispatch centers in their country. The collected protocols were translated into English, and content was compared.Results: A total of 60 countries were contacted (response rate: 83%). Of these, 46% stated to have a nationwide protocol, 30% reported to use local protocols, and 24% did not use a protocol. Overall, 54% provided a copy of their protocol. All translated protocols asked the rescuer to check for responsiveness and breathing, 35% to activate phone speaker function, half contained notes about agonal breathing and 59% included notes about integrating an automated external defibrillator.Conclusion: Almost one quarter of ILCOR member countries did not use a protocol for DA-CPR. Half of the protocols included notes about agonal breathing. Activation of phone speaker function and protocolled encouragements during CPR were rarely included.Keywords: cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dispatcher, bystander
