Impact of COVID-19 adapted guidelines on resuscitation quality in out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest: a manikin study

Jansen, Gerrit; Ebeling, Nicole; Latka, Eugen; Krüger, Stefan; Scholz, Sean S; Trapp, Simon; Granneman, Julia J; Thaemel, Daniel; Chandwani, Suraj; Sauzet, Odile; Rehberg, Sebastian W; Borgstedt, Rainer

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of European Resuscitation Council (ERC) COVID-19-guidelines on resuscitation quality emphasizing advanced airway management in out-of-hospital-cardiacarrest. METHODS: In a manikin study paramedics and emergency physicians performed Advanced-Cardiac-Life-Support in three settings: ERC guidelines 2015 (Control), COVID-19-guidelines as suggested with minimum staff (COVID-19-minimal-personnel); COVID-19-guidelines with paramedics and an emergency physician (COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager). Main outcome measures were no-flow-time, quality metrics as defined by ERC and time intervals to first chest compression, oxygen supply, intubation and first rhythm analysis. Data were presented as mean±standard deviation. RESULTS: Thirty resuscitation scenarios were completed. No-flow-time was markedly prolonged in COVID-19-minimal-personnel [113±37sec] compared to Control [55±9sec] and COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager [76±38sec](p<0.001 each). In both COVID-19-groups chest compressions started later [COVID-19-minimal-personnel:32±6sec; COVID-19-advancedairway-manager:37±7sec; each p<0.001 vs. Control (21±5sec)], but oxygen supply [COVID-19-minimal-personnel:29±5sec; COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager:34±7sec; each p<0.001 vs. Control (77±19sec)] and first intubation attempt [COVID-19-minimalpersonnel: 111±14sec; COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager:131±20sec; each p<0.001 vs. Control (178±44sec)] were performed earlier. However, time interval to successful intubation was similar [Control:198±48sec; COVID-19-minimal-personnel:181±42sec; COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager:130±25sec] due to a longer intubation time in COVID-19-minimalpersonnel [61±35sec] compared to COVID-19-advanced-airway-manager (p=0.002) and control [19±6sec;p<0.001]. Time to first rhythm analysis was more than doubled in COVID-19-minimal-personnel [138±96sec] compared to control [50±12sec;p<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed chest compressions and prolonged no-flow-time markedly reduced the quality of resuscitation. These negative effects were attenuated by increasing the number of staff and by adding an experienced airway manager. The use of endotracheal intubation for reducing aerosol release during resuscitation should be discussed critically as its priorization is associated with an increase in no-flow-time.