The effect of the head-up position in cardiopulmonary resuscitation – A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe pros and cons of the head-up position (HUP) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been controversial in previous studies. This study aims to clarify the effect of HUP CPR compared to supine position (SUP) CPR.MethodThree databases were comprehensively searched (PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library) for articles published from database inception to 10 May 2021. The primary outcome was cerebral perfusion pressure (CerPP). The secondary outcomes were mean intracranial pressure (ICP), mean artery pressure (MAP), coronary artery perfusion pressure (CoPP) and the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate.ResultA total of 7 studies including 138 animals were included. We found that CerPP (SMD, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.98–2.19; p < 0.01; I2 = 51%) and ICP (SMD, -3.59; 95% CI, -5.16– -2.02; p < 0.01; I2 = 87%) were decreased significantly in the HUP group. HUP had a similar MAP (SMD, -0.54; 95% CI, -1.75–0.66; p = 0.38; I2 = 87%) and ROSC rate (RR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.31–2.60; p = 0.84; I2 = 65%) to SUP. In addition, there was an increased CoPP trend in HUP, but the difference was not statistically significant (SMD, 0.92; 95% CI, -0.24–2.08; p = 0.12; I2 = 84%)ConclusionThe HUP 30° in active compression-decompression CPR (ACD-CPR) with an impedance threshold device (ITD) can increase CerPP by significantly lowering ICP and maintaining MAP compared to SUP, and the effect is immediate and lasts the whole CPR duration. In addition, CoPP might also be increased compared to that with SUP.

Abstract 435: Controlled Sequential Elevation of the Head and Thorax Rapidly Achieves 50% of Baseline Cerebral Perfusion Pressure During Active Compression-Decompression Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation With an Impedance Threshold Device in a Swine Model of Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: Controlled sequential elevation of the head and thorax (CSE) during active compression-decompression (ACD) CPR with an impedance threshold device (ITD) has previously resulted in sustained nearly normal cerebral perfusion pressures (CerPP) of 75 mmHg. However, the optimal speed of CSE remains unknown. It is also unknown if some CPR is needed to ‘prime the system’ prior to maximal CSE. Hypothesis: An optimized CSE will achieve 50% of baseline (50% BL) CerPP in <3 minutes from the start of CPR. Methods: Female farm pigs were intubated and anesthetized. Central vascular and intracranial access were obtained. After 8 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, pigs were placed in a customized elevation device (CED). After 2 min of ACD+ITD CPR at the lowest CED level to prime the circulation, pigs were randomized to CSE over 1) 4-min or 2) 10-min until the CED reached its highest level. ACD ITD CPR was performed for a total of 19 minutes. Based upon initial results, two additional groups of pigs were studied: one with a CSE over 2-min after the 2 min ‘priming’ step, and the other with CSE over 24-sec without priming. The primary outcome was time in minutes to achieve 50% BL of CerPP values. Results: There were six pigs per study group (4-min, 10-min, 2-min and 24-sec). The 4-min CSE group achieved 50% BL CerPP faster (min ± SD) than the 10-min CSE group (2.53 ± 1.26 vs 5.98 ± 3.16 , p=0.04, Figure 1). The 2-min CSE group CerPP was similar to the 4-min group (2.36 ± 2.18, p=0.92). The time to 50% BL CerPP trended 4 min faster in the 2-min CSE group versus the 24-sec CSE group (6.6 ± 6.73, p=0.16), as shown in the figure. With CSE, CerPPs increased over time in all groups. All pigs were resuscitated. Conclusions: A 50% BL CerPP value was achieved in <3 minutes by combining a priming step and 2-min CSE time together with ACD+ITD CPR. This optimized approach is more advantageous than the 24-sec or 10-min elevation times.

Abstract 17: Controlled Progressive Elevation Maximizes Cerebral Perfusion Pressure During Head up CPR in a Swine Model of Cardiac Arrest

Background: Elevation of the head and thorax (HUP) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been shown to result in a doubling of brain blood flow with higher Cerebral Perfusion Pressures (CerPP) after prolonged active compression-decompression (ACD) CPR with an impedance threshold device (ITD). However, the optimal angle and speed of elevation are unknown. Methods: In study A, in an anesthetized female 40 kg pig model of untreated ventricular fibrillation for 8 min, different HUP angles were assessed (20°, 30°, 40°) in a randomized manner each over a 5-minute periods of ACD+ITD CPR. Based upon study A results, study B was performed, wherein animals were randomized to the two following sequences: 20°, 30°, 40° or 40°, 30°, 20° using the same protocol. The primary endpoint was mean ± SD CerPP (mmHg) for both studies. Results: In study A, 18 pigs were studied. Overall, there was no optimal HUP angle: CerPP was 36 ± 19 for 20°, 42 ± 21 for 30°, and 44 ± 27 for 40° (p = 0.57). However, CerPPs were higher if 40 o HUP was performed during the last 5 minutes of the resuscitation (77 ± 17), versus 20 o HUP and 30 o HUP (44± 18, p = 0.003), suggestive of a sequence effect. To test this hypothesis, study B then enrolled additional animals to compare two elevation sequences 20°, 30°, 40° (n = 6) or 40°, 30°, 20° (n = 5). At 15 min of CPR, the CerPP for 20°, 30°, 40° group was 60 ± 17 and for 40°, 30°, 20° the CerPP was 23 ± 19 (p = 0.01). CerPPs were higher for the 20°, 30°, 40° group throughout the resuscitation (Figure 1). Coronary perfusion pressure was also significantly higher in the 20°, 30°, 40° group (50 ± 17 mmHg versus 22 ± 16 mmHg, p = 0.036) Conclusions: There did not appear to be an optimal HUP angle during ACD+ITD CPR. By contrast, there was an optimal HUP sequence (20,30,40) that resulted in significantly higher CerPP, suggesting controlled progressive elevation is important when performing HUP CPR as compared to an absolute immediate elevation of the head and thorax.

Abstract 139: Impedance Threshold Device and Active Decompression Improve Hemodynamics in a Swine Model of Prolonged CPR

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the impedance threshold device and active decompression (ITD-ACD CPR) has been shown to improve chest compression generated blood flow relative to standard chest compression. Using our high-fidelity swine model of cardiac arrest treated with prolonged mechanical chest compression (MCC) we studied the effect of different lift heights (amount of lift above the natural zero point of the sternum) during active decompression. Methods: CPR was performed on six domestic swine (~30 kg) using standard physiological monitoring. Flow was measured in the abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava (IVC), right common carotid and external jugular, and left femoral artery. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was electrically induced. MCC were started after ten minutes of VF. Four MCC waveforms were used: Standard CPR (2”, 100 CPM), and ITD-ACD CPR (2”, 80 CPM) with 0.5”, 1.0”, and 1.5” lift past the zero point. MCC waveforms were changed every 2 min in a crossover design and delivered for 56 minutes. Data were analyzed in CPR cycles which included four epochs of CPR, one of each waveform, constituting 8 minutes of compressions. Results: Lift height had a significant (p<0.05) effect on carotid and jugular blood flow. Lift heights of 1.0 and 1.5” generated significantly more carotid blood flow in all 7 CPR cycles. A lift height of 1.5” generated significantly more jugular blood flow over all 7 CPR cycles. The interaction between duration of CPR and Jugular blood flow previously observed using this animal model was not observed. Carotid and jugular blood flow as a function of waveform and CPR cycle are shown in the figure. Conclusions: ITD-ACD CPR improved carotid and jugular blood flows, suggestive of improved cerebral perfusion. A lift height of 1.5” was required for significant improvement of jugular blood flows, while ITD-ACD CPR provided significantly better carotid blood flow than standard CPR at all lift heights.

End-tidal carbon dioxide output in manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus active compression-decompression device during prehospital quality controlled resuscitation: a case series study

BackgroundActive compression–decompression (ACD) devices have enhanced end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) output in experimental cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) studies. However, the results in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients have shown inconsistent outcomes, and earlier studies lacked quality control of CPR attempts. We compared manual CPR with ACD-CPR by measuring ETCO2 output using an audiovisual feedback defibrillator to ensure continuous high quality resuscitation attempts.Methods10 witnessed OHCAs were resuscitated, rotating a 2 min cycle with manual CPR and a 2 min cycle of ACD-CPR. Patients were intubated and the ventilation rate was held constant during CPR. CPR quality parameters and ETCO2 values were collected continuously with the defibrillator. Differences in ETCO2 output between manual CPR and ACD-CPR were analysed using a linear mixed model where ETCO2 output produced by a summary of the 2 min cycles was included as the dependent variable, the patient as a random factor and method as a fixed effect. These comparisons were made within each OHCA case to minimise confounding factors between the cases.ResultsMean length of the CPR episodes was 37 (SD 8) min. Mean compression depth was 76 (SD 1.3) mm versus 71 (SD1.0) mm, and mean compression rate was 100 per min (SD 6.7) versus 105 per min (SD 4.9) between ACD-CPR and manual CPR, respectively. For ETCO2 output, the interaction between the method and the patient was significant (P<0.001). ETCO2 output was higher with manual CPR in 6 of the 10 cases.ConclusionsThis study suggests that quality controlled ACD-CPR is not superior to quality controlled manual CPR when ETCO2 is used as a quantitative measure of CPR effectiveness.Trial registration numberNCT00951704; Results.

Abstract 249: Sodium Nitroprusside Combined with Intrathoracic Pressure Regulation Increases Neurologically Favorable 24-Hour Survival in a Porcine Model of Prolonged Ventricular Fibrillation

Introduction: Use of epinephrine and standard (S) CPR has not been shown to improve neurologically-sound survival after cardiac arrest. Treatment with the potent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) improves neurologically intact survival rates in animals when combined with abdominal compression, active compression decompression (ACD) CPR, and an impedance threshold device (ITD). We recently observed that SNP combined with ACD-CPR and a new intrathoracic pressure regulator (IPR), which provides continuous negative intrathoracic pressure after each positive pressure ventilation, increases blood flow to the heart and brain in the absence of epinephrine or abdominal compression. We hypothesized that this combination of SNP plus ACD CPR plus IPR (S-A-I) would improve 24h survival with favorable neurologic function compared with S-CPR. Method: After 12 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation (VF), 14 pigs received 3 minutes of S-CPR and were then randomized to a) a bolus of epinephrine (0.05mcg/kg), 2 more minutes of S-CPR and up to 3 defibrillation shocks or b) S-A-I and up to 3 shocks 2 minutes later. All resuscitated animals received therapeutic hypothermia for 4 hours. The primary endpoint was favorable neurologic outcome 24h after resuscitation defined by a Cerebral Performance Category score ≤ 2 (CPC with 1 for no deficit and 5 as dead or unable to resuscitate) as determined by a blinded veterinarian. Hemodynamic parameters and left ventricular ejection fraction were recorded. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Results: At 24 hours, 0/7 pigs in the S-CPR group vs. 5/7 pigs in S-A-I had favorable outcome (p=0.02). One pig survived 24 hours in the S-CPR group with a CPC of 4 vs. 5 in the S-A-I group with a CPC of 1.4±0.2. Carotid blood flow and ETCO2 were higher with S-A-I_vs. S-CPR and epinephrine (127±32 vs. 22±4 ml/min, p=0.005, and 46±5 vs. 22±3 mmHg, respectively, p=0.001). Conclusion: After prolonged VF in pigs, treatment with the combination of ACD CPR, an intrathoracic pressure regulator and SNP, in the absence of epinephrine, significantly increased carotid flow, ETCO2 levels, and neurologically-favorable 24 hour survival rates compared with S-CPR and epinephrine. This novel and promising approach should be considered for a Phase 1 human trial.