Project description:IntroductionClinical event debriefing functions to identify optimal and suboptimal performance to improve future performance. "Cold" debriefing (CD), or debriefing performed more than 1 day after an event, was reported to improve patient survival in a single institution. We sought to describe the frequency and content of CD across multiple pediatric centers.MethodsMixed-methods, a retrospective review of prospectively collected in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) data, and a supplemental survey of 18 international institutions in the Pediatric Resuscitation Quality (pediRES-Q) collaborative. Data from 283 IHCA events reported between February 2016 and April 2018 were analyzed. We used a Plus/Delta framework to collect debriefing content and performed a qualitative analysis utilizing a modified Team Emergency Assessment Measurement Framework. Univariate and regression models were applied, accounting for clustering by site.ResultsCD occurred in 33% (93/283) of IHCA events. Median time to debriefing was 26 days [IQR 11, 41] with a median duration of 60 minutes [20, 60]. Attendance was variable across sites (profession, number per debriefing): physicians 12 [IQR 4, 20], nurses 1 [1, 6], respiratory therapists 0 [0, 1], and administrators 1 [0, 1]. "Plus" comments reported per event were most commonly clinical standards 47% (44/93), cooperation 29% (27/93), and communication 17% (16/93). "Delta" comments were in similar categories: clinical standards 44% (41/93), cooperation 26% (24/93), and communication 14% (13/93).ConclusionsCDs were performed after 33% of cardiac arrests in this multicenter pediatric IHCA collaborative. The majority of plus and delta comments could be categorized as clinical standards, cooperation and communication.
Project description:ImportanceMortality from pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is high and has not improved in decades, unlike adult mortality. The low frequency of pediatric OHCA and weight-based medication and equipment needs may lead to lower quality of pediatric resuscitation compared with adults.ObjectiveTo compare the quality of pediatric and adult resuscitation from OHCA in a controlled simulation environment and to evaluate whether teamwork, knowledge, experience, and cognitive load are associated with resuscitation performance.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional in-situ simulation study was conducted between September 2020 and August 2021 in the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, and included engine companies from fire-based emergency services (EMS) agencies.ExposuresParticipating EMS crews completed 4 simulation scenarios presented in random order: (1) adult female with ventricular fibrillation; (2) adult female with pulseless electrical activity; (3) school-aged child with ventricular fibrillation; and (4) infant with pulseless electrical activity. All patients were pulseless on EMS arrival. Data were captured by the research team in real time during the scenarios.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was defect-free care, which included correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation depth, rate, and compression to ventilation ratio, time to bag-mask ventilation, and time to defibrillation, if applicable. Outcomes were determined by direct observation by an experienced physician. Secondary outcomes included additional time-based interventions and the use of correct medication doses and equipment size. We measured teamwork using the clinical teamwork scale, cognitive load with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA-TLX), and knowledge using advanced life support resuscitation tests.ResultsAmong the 215 clinicians (39 crews) who participated in 156 simulations, 200 (93%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 38.7 (0.6) years. No pediatric shockable scenario was defect free and only 5 pediatric nonshockable scenarios (12.8%) were defect free, while 11 (28.2%) adult shockable scenarios and 27 adult nonshockable scenarios (69.2%) were defect free. The mental demand subscale of the NASA-TLX was higher in the pediatric compared with the adult scenarios (mean [SD] pediatric score, 59.1 [20.7]; mean [SD] adult score, 51.4 [21.1]; P = .01). Teamwork scores were not associated with defect-free care.Conclusions and relevanceIn this simulation study of OHCA, resuscitation quality was significantly lower for pediatric than adult resuscitation. Mental demand may have been a contributor.
Project description:BackgroundPediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) has received limited attention. All causes of POHCA and outcomes were examined during a 4-year period in a Danish nationwide register and prehospital medical records. The aim was to describe the incidence, reversible causes, and survival rates for POHCA in Denmark.MethodsThis is a registry-based follow-up cohort study. All POHCA for a 4-year period (2016-2019) in Denmark were included. All prehospital medical records for the included subjects were reviewed manually by five independent raters establishing whether a presumed reversible cause could be assigned.ResultsWe identified 173 cases within the study period. The median incidence of POHCA in the population below 17 years of age was 4.2 per 100,000 persons at risk. We found a presumed reversible cause in 48.6% of cases, with hypoxia being the predominant cause of POHCA (42.2%). The thirty-day survival was 40%. Variations were seen across age groups, with the lowest survival rate in cases below 1 year of age. Defibrillators were used more frequently among survivors, with 16% of survivors defibrillated bystanders as opposed to 1.9% in non-survivors and 24% by EMS personnel as opposed to 7.8% in non-survivors. The differences in initial rhythm being shockable was 34% for survivors and 16% for non-survivors.ConclusionWe found pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests was a rare event, with higher incidence and mortality in infants compared to other age groups of children. Use of defibrillators was disproportionally higher among survivors. Hypoxia was the most common presumed cause among all age groups.
Project description:IntroductionChildren with cardiac conditions are at higher risk of in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CA), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the elevated risk, proactive cardiac arrest prevention programs in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) remain underdeveloped. Our team developed a multidisciplinary program centered on developing a quality improvement (QI) bundle for patients at high risk of CA.MethodsThis project occurred in a 26-bed pediatric CICU of a tertiary care children's hospital. Statistical process control methodology tracked changes in CA rates over time. The global aim was to reduce CICU mortality; the smart aim was to reduce the CA rate by 50% over 12 months. Interprofessional development and implementation of a QI bundle included visual cues to identify high-risk patients, risk mitigation strategies, a new rounding paradigm, and defined escalation algorithms. Additionally, weekly event and long-term data reviews, arrest debriefs, and weekly unit-wide dissemination of key findings supported a culture change.ResultsAfter bundle implementation, CA rates decreased by 68% compared to baseline and 45% from the historical baseline. Major complications decreased from 17.1% to 12.6% (P < 0.001) and mortality decreased from 5.7% to 5.0% (P = 0.048). These results were sustained for 30 months.ConclusionsCardiac arrest is a modifiable, rather than inevitable, metric in the CICU. Reduction is achievable through the interprofessional implementation of bundled interventions targeting proactive CA prevention. Once incorporated into widespread efforts to engage multidisciplinary CICU stakeholders, these patient-focused interventions resulted in sustained improvement.
Project description:Background Innovative program designs and strategies are needed to support the widespread uptake of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in the post-COVID19 era. We combined user-centered design (UCD) and implementation science (ImS) principles to design a novel telehealth-enhanced hybrid (home and clinic-based) CR (THCR) program. Methods As part of a New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) quality improvement initiative (March 2020-February 2022), we designed a THCR program using an iterative 3 step UCD process informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to: 1) identify user and contextual barriers to CR uptake (stakeholder interviews), 2) design an intervention prototype (design workshops and journey mapping), and 3) refine the prototype (usability testing). The process was optimized for usability and implementation outcomes. Results Step 1: Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 9) at 3 geographically diverse academic medical centers revealed behavioral (e.g., self-efficacy, knowledge) and contextual (e.g., social distancing guidelines, physical space, staffing, reimbursement) barriers to uptake. Step 2: Design workshops (n = 20) and journey-mapping sessions (n = 3) with multi-disciplinary NYPH stakeholders (e.g., digital health team, CR clinicians, creative director) yielded a THCR prototype that leveraged NYPH's investment in their remote patient monitoring (RPM) platform to optimize feasibility of home-based CR sessions. Step 3: Usability testing with CR clinicians (n = 2) administering and CR patients (n = 3) participating in home-based sessions revealed usability challenges (e.g., RPM devices/exercise equipment usability; Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity/syncing; patient safety/knowledge and protocol flexibility). Design workshops (n = 24) and journey-mapping sessions (n = 3) yielded design solutions (e.g., onboarding sessions, safety surveys, fully supervised remote sessions) and a refined THCR prototype. Conclusion Combining UCD and ImS methods while engaging multi-disciplinary stakeholders in an iterative process yielded a theory-informed telehealth-enhanced hybrid CR program targeting user and contextual barriers to real-world CR implementation. We provide a detailed summary of the process, and guidance for incorporating UCD and ImS methods in early-stage intervention development. THCR may shrink the evidence-to-practice gap in CR implementation. A future hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation trial will determine its feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness.
Project description:Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a global health problem with low survival. Regional variation in survival has heightened interest in combining cardiac arrest registries to understand and improve OHCA outcomes. While individual OHCA registries exist in Australian and New Zealand ambulance services, until recently these registries have not been combined. The aim of this protocol paper is to describe the rationale and methods of the Australian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (Aus-ROC) OHCA epidemiological registry (Epistry).The Aus-ROC Epistry is designed as a population-based cohort study. Data collection started in 2014. Six ambulance services in Australia (Ambulance Victoria, SA Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance Western Australia and Queensland Ambulance Service) and New Zealand (St John New Zealand and Wellington Free Ambulance) currently contribute data. All OHCA attended by ambulance, regardless of aetiology or patient age, are included in the Epistry. The catchment population is approximately 19.3 million persons, representing 63% of the Australian population and 100% of the New Zealand population. Data are collected using Utstein-style definitions. Information incorporated into the Epistry includes demographics, arrest features, ambulance response times, treatment and patient outcomes. The primary outcome is 'survival to hospital discharge', with 'return of spontaneous circulation' as a key secondary outcome.Ethics approval was independently sought by each of the contributing registries. Overarching ethics for the Epistry was provided by Monash University HREC (Approval No. CF12/3938-2012001888). A population-based OHCA registry capturing the majority of Australia and New Zealand will allow risk-adjusted outcomes to be determined, to enable benchmarking across ambulance providers, facilitate the identification of system-wide strategies associated with survival from OHCA, and allow monitoring of temporal trends in process and outcomes to improve patient care. Findings will be shared with participating ambulance services and the academic community.
Project description:IntroductionEarly recognition of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by the medical dispatcher is a prerequisite for an effective chain of survival, leading to rapid dispatch of emergency medical services.AimTo analyse and compare the accuracy of the Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre in identifying OHCA before and after an educational intervention.MethodsA quality-assessment study collecting data from prehospital medical voice logs in Southern Denmark during two periods. Baseline data and post-interventional data were obtained during December, January, and February 2017/2018 and 2019/2020, respectively. We imposed an intervention consisting of a specifically targeted education in quick assessment of OHCA and instructions regarding telephone-assisted-CPR.The primary outcome measure was the dispatcher's ability to recognise OHCA. Secondary outcome measures were time from contact with the caller to the dispatcher formulated essential questions related to the NO-NO-GO algorithm. These questions included an assessment of the patients' consciousness and respiratory efforts and if both negative, would ideally lead to the dispatcher initiating telephone-assisted-CPR. All data was analysed in accordance with the recommendations and performance goals made by Resuscitation Academy.ResultsBaseline data included 209 calls. Post-interventional data was based on 208 calls.The sensitivity for recognition of OHCA was 82.3% (95% CI: 76.4-87.2%) before and 92.7% (95% CI: 88.2-95.8%) after the intervention (p = 0.0014). The median duration of calls before recognition of OHCA was 68 and 56 s before and after the intervention (p = 0.097).ConclusionAfter the period of intervention, the accuracy of OHCA recognition by dispatchers improved. The median time to identify OHCA or recognise the first compression did not differ significantly. This indicates that continuing education and quality assessment may be beneficial and necessary.
Project description:IntroductionEmergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are essential for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival, however implementing high-performance CPR guidelines in developing EMS settings presents challenges. This study assessed the impact of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives on OHCA outcomes in a hospital-based EMS agency in Bangkok, Thailand.MethodsA before-and-after study design was utilized, utilizing data from a prospective OHCA registry spanning 2019 to 2023. CQI interventions included low-dose high-frequency training in advanced airway management, high-performance CPR, and post-debriefing with video recording (VDO). Data collection encompassed patient characteristics, EMS management, and survival outcomes. Quality CPR metrics were assessed using the mobile defibrillator and CPR code review software. Statistical analyses compared outcomes between the pre-intervention period in 2019 and the post-full CQI implementation period in 2023.ResultsAmong enrolled OHCA patients, with 88 cases occurring in 2019 and 91 cases in 2023. The bystander CPR rate was similar between both groups (47.73% in 2023 vs 53.85%, p = 0.413). In 2023, there was a significantly higher rate of prehospital intubation (93.40% vs 70.45%, p < 0.001) compared to 2019. Prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) improved from 30.68% to 49.45% (p = 0.012), with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.16 (95% CI: 1.14-4.07). Survival to discharge increased significantly from 2.27% in 2019 to 7.69% in 2023 (p = 0.27), with an aOR of 3.81 (95% CI: 0.46-31.79).ConclusionTailored CQI initiatives in a developing EMS setting were significantly associated with improved prehospital ROSC but showed an insignificant increase in survival to discharge.
Project description:ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to associate ventilation rates during in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation with 1) arterial blood pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 2) survival outcomes.DesignProspective, multicenter observational study.SettingPediatric and pediatric cardiac ICUs of the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network.PatientsIntubated children (≥ 37 wk gestation and < 19 yr old) who received at least 1 minute of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.InterventionsNone.Measurements and main resultsArterial blood pressure and ventilation rate (breaths/min) were manually extracted from arterial line and capnogram waveforms. Guideline rate was defined as 10 ± 2 breaths/min; high ventilation rate as greater than or equal to 30 breaths/min in children less than 1 year old, and greater than or equal to 25 breaths/min in older children. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Regression models using Firth penalized likelihood assessed the association between ventilation rates and outcomes. Ventilation rates were available for 52 events (47 patients). More than half of patients (30/47; 64%) were less than 1 year old. Eighteen patients (38%) survived to discharge. Median event-level average ventilation rate was 29.8 breaths/min (interquartile range, 23.8-35.7). No event-level average ventilation rate was within guidelines; 30 events (58%) had high ventilation rates. The only significant association between ventilation rate and arterial blood pressure occurred in children 1 year old or older and was present for systolic blood pressure only (-17.8 mm Hg/10 breaths/min; 95% CI, -27.6 to -8.1; p < 0.01). High ventilation rates were associated with a higher odds of survival to discharge (odds ratio, 4.73; p = 0.029). This association was stable after individually controlling for location (adjusted odds ratio, 5.97; p = 0.022), initial rhythm (adjusted odds ratio, 3.87; p = 0.066), and time of day (adjusted odds ratio, 4.12; p = 0.049).ConclusionsIn this multicenter cohort, ventilation rates exceeding guidelines were common. Among the range of rates delivered, higher rates were associated with improved survival to hospital discharge.
Project description:To analyze functional performance measures collected prospectively during the conduct of a clinical trial that enrolled children (up to age 18 yr old), resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, who were at high risk of poor outcomes.Children with Glasgow Motor Scale score less than 5, within 6 hours of resuscitation, were enrolled in a clinical trial that compared two targeted temperature management interventions (THAPCA-OH, NCT00878644). The primary outcome, 12-month survival with Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, score greater or equal to 70, did not differ between groups.Thirty-eight North American PICUs.Two hundred ninety-five children were enrolled; 270 of 295 had baseline Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, scores greater or equal to 70; 87 of 270 survived 1 year.Targeted temperatures were 33.0°C and 36.8°C for hypothermia and normothermia groups.Baseline measures included Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category, and Pediatric Overall Performance Category. Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category and Pediatric Overall Performance Category were rescored at hospital discharges; all three were scored at 3 and 12 months. In survivors with baseline Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition scores greater or equal to 70, we evaluated relationships of hospital discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category with 3- and 12-month scores and between 3- and 12-month Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, scores. Hospital discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scores strongly predicted 3- and 12-month Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (r = 0.82 and 0.79; p < 0.0001) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, scores (r = -0.81 and -0.77; p < 0.0001). Three-month Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, scores strongly predicted 12-month performance (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001). Hypothermia treatment did not alter these relationships.In comatose children, with Glasgow Motor Scale score less than 5 in the initial hours after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation, function scores at hospital discharge and at 3 months predicted 12-month performance well in the majority of survivors.