Optimizing CPR performance with CPR coaching for pediatric cardiac arrest: A randomized simulation-based clinical trial

Aim: To determine if integrating a trained CPR Coach into resuscitation teams can improve CPR quality during simulated pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA). Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial. An 18-minute simulated CPA scenario was run for resuscitation teams comprised of CPR-certified professionals from four International Network for Simulation-based Pediatric Innovation, Research & Education (INSPIRE) institutions. Forty teams (200 participants) were randomized to having a trained CPR Coach vs. no CPR Coach. CPR Coaches were responsible for providing real-time verbal feedback of CPR performance to compressors. All teams utilized CPR feedback technology. We report the proportion of overall excellent CPR, proportion of chest compressions (CC) with depth 50-60 mm, the proportion of CC with rate 100-120 per minute, CC fraction, and pre-, post-, and peri-shock pause duration. Results: CPR coached teams compared with teams without a CPR Coach resulted in an absolute improvements in overall excellent CPR by 31.8% (95% CI, 17.7, 35.9; p < 0.001), mean CC depth compliance by 31.5% (15.7, 47.4; p < 0.001), mean CC depth by 4.6 mm (1.6, 7.5; p < 0.001), mean CC fraction by 5.4% (0.2, 10.6; p = 0.04), and mean pre-, post- and peri-shock pause duration by - 2.7 s (- 5.1, - 0.4; p = 0.02), -1.0 s (- 1.8, - 0.2; p = 0.01); and - 3.8 (- 6.6, -1.0; p = 0.008), respectively. Changes in mean CC rate compliance and mean CC rate were not statistically significant. Conclusions: In the presence of CPR feedback technology, the integration of a trained CPR coach into resuscitation teams enhances CPRquality metrics associated with improved survival outcomes from pediatric cardiac arrest.