GMS German Medical Science (Jun 2019)

Continuous chest compressions with a simultaneous triggered ventilator in the Munich Emergency Medical Services: a case series

  • Schaller, Stefan J.,
  • Altmann, Sonja,
  • Unsworth, Annalise,
  • Schneider, Gerhard,
  • Bogner-Flatz, Viktoria,
  • Paul, Thomas,
  • Hoppmann, Petra,
  • Kanz, Karl-Georg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3205/000272
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17
p. Doc06

Abstract

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Background: Mechanical chest compression devices are commonly used providing a constant force and frequency of chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, there are currently no recommendations on ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a mechanical chest compression device using continuous mode. An effective method for ventilation in such scenarios might be a triggered oxygen-powered resuscitator.Methods: We report seven cardiopulmonary resuscitation cases from the Munich Emergency Medical Service where mechanical chest compression devices in continuous mode were used with an oxygen-powered resuscitator. In each case, the resuscitator (Oxylator) was running in automatic mode delivering a breath during the decompression phase of the chest compressions at a frequency of 100 per minute. End-tidal carbon dioxide and pulse oximetry were measured. Additional data was collected from the resuscitation protocol of each patient.Results: End-tidal carbon dioxide was available in all cases while oxygen saturation only in four. Five patients had a return of spontaneous circulation. Based on the end-tidal carbon dioxide values of each of the cases, the resuscitator did not seem to cause hyperventilation and suggests that good-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation was delivered.Conclusions: Continuous chest compressions using a mechanical chest compression device and simultaneous synchronized ventilation using an oxygen-powered resuscitator in an automatic triggering mode might be feasible during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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