Efficacy of a new dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocol with audio call-to-video call transition

Abstract

Background: Video call based dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (V-DACPR) has been suggested to improve the quality of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the current system, dispatchers must convert the audio calls to video calls to provide V-DACPR. We aimed to develop new audio call-to-video call transition protocols and test its efficacy and safety compared to conventional DACPR(C-DACPR).

Methods: This was a randomized controlled simulation trial that compared the quality of bystander chest compression that was performed under three different DACPR protocols: C-DACPR, V-DACPR with rapid transition, and V-DACPR with delayed transition. Adult volunteers excluding healthcare providers were recruited for the trial. The primary outcome of the study was the mean proportion of adequate hand positioning during chest compression.

Results: Simulation results of 131 volunteers were analyzed. The mean proportion of adequate hand positioning was highest in V-DACPR with rapid transition (V-DACPR with rapid transition vs. C-DACPR: 92.7% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.03). The mean chest compression depth was deeper in both V-DACPR groups than in the C-DACPR group (V-DACPR with rapid transition vs. C-DACPR: 40.7 mm vs. 35.9 mm, p = 0.01, V-DACPR with delayed transition vs. C- DACPR: 40.9 mm vs. 35.9 mm, p = 0.01). Improvement in the proportion of adequate hand positioning was observed in the V-DACPR groups (r = 0.25, p < 0.01 for rapid transition and r = 0.19, p < 0.01 for delayed transition).

Conclusion: Participants in the V-DACPR groups performed higher quality chest compression with higher appropriate hand positioning and deeper compression depth compared to the C-DACPR group.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Emergency medical dispatch; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Videoconferencing.