'I think he's dead': A cohort study of the impact of caller declarations of death during the emergency call on bystander CPR.
Barrier
Bystander-CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Communication
Dispatcher
Emergency call
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Telephone-CPR
Viability
Journal
Resuscitation
ISSN: 1873-1570
Titre abrégé: Resuscitation
Pays: Ireland
ID NLM: 0332173
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2021
03 2021
Historique:
received:
18
09
2020
revised:
04
12
2020
accepted:
01
01
2021
pubmed:
15
1
2021
medline:
22
6
2021
entrez:
14
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In emergency calls for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), dispatchers are instrumental in the provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through the recruitment of the caller. We explored the impact of caller perception of patient viability on initial recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher, rates of bystander CPR and early patient survival outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 422 emergency calls where OHCA was recognised by the dispatcher and resuscitation was attempted by paramedics. We used the call recordings, dispatch data, and electronic patient care records to identify caller statements that the patient was dead, initial versus delayed recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher, caller acceptance to perform CPR, provision of bystander-CPR, prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and ROSC on arrival at the Emergency Department. Initial recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher was more frequent in cases with a declaration of death by the caller than in cases without (92%, 73/79 vs. 66%, 227/343, p < 0.001). Callers who expressed such a view (19% of cases) were more likely to decline CPR (38% vs. 10%, adjusted odds ratio 4.59, 95% confidence interval 2.49-8.52, p < 0.001). Yet, 15% (12/79) of patients described as non-viable by callers achieved ROSC. Caller statements that the patient is dead are helpful for dispatchers to recognise OHCA early, but potentially detrimental when recruiting the caller to perform CPR. There is an opportunity to improve the rate of bystander-CPR and patient outcomes if dispatchers are attentive to caller statements about viability.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In emergency calls for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), dispatchers are instrumental in the provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through the recruitment of the caller. We explored the impact of caller perception of patient viability on initial recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher, rates of bystander CPR and early patient survival outcomes.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 422 emergency calls where OHCA was recognised by the dispatcher and resuscitation was attempted by paramedics. We used the call recordings, dispatch data, and electronic patient care records to identify caller statements that the patient was dead, initial versus delayed recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher, caller acceptance to perform CPR, provision of bystander-CPR, prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and ROSC on arrival at the Emergency Department.
RESULTS
Initial recognition of OHCA by the dispatcher was more frequent in cases with a declaration of death by the caller than in cases without (92%, 73/79 vs. 66%, 227/343, p < 0.001). Callers who expressed such a view (19% of cases) were more likely to decline CPR (38% vs. 10%, adjusted odds ratio 4.59, 95% confidence interval 2.49-8.52, p < 0.001). Yet, 15% (12/79) of patients described as non-viable by callers achieved ROSC.
CONCLUSION
Caller statements that the patient is dead are helpful for dispatchers to recognise OHCA early, but potentially detrimental when recruiting the caller to perform CPR. There is an opportunity to improve the rate of bystander-CPR and patient outcomes if dispatchers are attentive to caller statements about viability.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33444705
pii: S0300-9572(21)00003-4
doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.01.001
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1-6Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.