Elsevier

Resuscitation

Volume 186, May 2023, 109758
Resuscitation

Experimental paper
Evaluating current guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an integrated computational model of the cardiopulmonary system

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109758Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objective

We aimed to use a high-fidelity computational model that captures key interactions between the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems to investigate whether current CPR protocols could potentially be improved.

Methods

We developed and validated the computational model against available human data. We used a global optimisation algorithm to find CPR protocol parameters that optimise the outputs associated with return of spontaneous circulation in a cohort of 10 virtual subjects.

Results

Compared with current protocols, myocardial tissue oxygen volume was more than 5 times higher, and cerebral tissue oxygen volume was nearly doubled, during optimised CPR. While the optimal maximal sternal displacement (5.5 cm) and compression ratio (51%) found using our model agreed with the current American Heart Association guidelines, the optimal chest compression rate was lower (67 compressions min−1). Similarly, the optimal ventilation strategy was more conservative than current guidelines, with an optimal minute ventilation of 1500 ml min−1 and inspired fraction of oxygen of 80%. The end compression force was the parameter with the largest impact on CO, followed by PEEP, the compression ratio and the CC rate.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that current CPR protocols could potentially be improved. Excessive ventilation could be detrimental to organ oxygenation during CPR, due to the negative haemodynamic effect of increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Particular attention should be given to the chest compression force to achieve satisfactory CO. Future clinical trials aimed at developing improved CPR protocols should explicitly consider interactions between chest compression and ventilation parameters.

Keywords

Cardiac arrest
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Chest compressions
Computational simulation
Modelling

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