ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Open access

Italian Journal of Emergency Medicine 2020 December;9(3):161-8

DOI: 10.23736/S2532-1285.20.00027-0

Copyright © 2020 THE AUTHORS

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lingua: Inglese

A cross-sectional study to evaluate high-quality CPR maneuvers in rescuers and instructors attending the General Instructor Course

Stefano GANDOLFI ¹ ✉, Anita LUCIANI ¹, Jennifer MEESSEN ², Federico SEMERARO ³, Andrea SCAPIGLIATI ⁴, Niccolò GRIECO ⁵, Silvia SCELSI ⁶, Giuseppe RISTAGNO ^{7, 8}

¹ Italian Resuscitation Council Foundation, Bologna, Italy; ² Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy; ³ Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medical Services, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy; ⁴ Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Institute of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Rome, Italy; ⁵ Department of Cardiology “De Gasperis,” Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; ⁶ Department of Health Professions, Pediatric Research Institute Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; ⁷ Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; ⁸ Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation represents the cornerstone of successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Both professional and bystander lay rescuers should provide high-quality CPR. The use of CPR feedback devices has been reported to improve the quality of the performance.
METHODS: In this single-rescuer cross-sectional study, the effect of the visual feedback system on CPR maneuvers was investigated in relationship to the role of anthropometric variables, profession, and frequency of CPR as limiting characteristics to achieve better performance during chest compressions. One hundred sixty BLS qualified rescuers have been enrolled into two groups to perform a cycle of 2 min CPR without feedback followed by another 2 min CPR cycle with feedback (group 1) or vice versa (group 2).
RESULTS: Comparing CPR performances, we found statistically significant associations in both groups. Group 1 improved different parameters such as the number of correctly released compressions, the adequate rate, and reduced the overall inactivity (all P<0.001). Group 2 reached a deeper depth in compressions from 52 mm to 54 mm (P=0.011) increasing the overall number of adequate depth compressions (P=0.017) and minimalizing the hands-off time (P<0.001). Gender was associated with mean depth: females have 8.3 mm less compression depth and performed more shallow compressions. Those who perform CPR more frequently in real scenario tend to carry out more compressions (P=0.008) at fast rate.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the FB system can lead to better CPR performances according to the international guidelines. We strongly suggest the adoption of real-time feedback CPR among CPR courses and short-term retraining.

KEY WORDS: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Feedback; Education; Manikins; Knowledge of results, psychological