Improving quality in measuring time to initiation of CPR during in-hospital resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: Time from the onset of "low or no flow" indicators of cardiac failure to initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an important quality metric thought to improve the likelihood of survival and preservation of end organ function. We hypothesized that delays in initiation of chest compressions were under recognized during in-hospital resuscitation and aimed to develop a system which identifies the actual time of deterioration during cardiac events.

METHODS: Retrospective review on prospectively identified resuscitation records and monitor data were compared. Return of spontaneous circulation, survival, and changes in functional status of patients pre- and post-events with chest compressions were collected as outcome measures.

RESULTS: Between October 2012 and April 2015, 59 events which met eligibility criteria occurred in either our pediatric cardiac or general pediatric intensive care units. The median time from event onset to initiation of chest compressions was 47s(s) (interquartile range (IQR) 28-80s) as assessed using monitor data, while the resuscitation record reported a median time of 0s (IQR 0-60s), reflecting the time from recognition to initiation of chest compressions. According to the resuscitation record, 81% vs. 63% of events achieved the quality standard of less than one minute depending on which review method was used (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant difference between time of deterioration to initiation of chest compressions and the time of recognition to initiation of chest compressions. Resuscitation records should be modified to include more information about the actual timing of patient deterioration.