Could video assisted CPR improve treatment in complex cardiac arrest situations? - A case report.

Abstract

Background: Immediate recognition of cardiac arrest, start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation are key factors to improve survival rates. However, there is considerable variation in the quality of bystander CPR. Video assisted CPR (V-CPR) has been shown to possibly improve CPR quality provided by bystanders. Since 2020, Norwegian emergency medical dispatchers have used V-CPR to increase dispatcher situational awareness and improve on-scene response.

Case presentation: We present a case with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a 58-year-old male with known cardiac disease. Two laypersons present were assisted in CPR with the use of V-CPR. This was complicated by no previous CPR training in both laypersons, long ambulance response times and CPR induced consciousness (CPRIC).

Conclusions: The case represents a complex cardiac arrest with prolonged CPR, CPRIC, two bystanders with no previous CPR training, where V-CPR was instrumental in providing on scene guidance and in decision-making. A more tailored approach to a complex OHCA with long lasting resuscitation was enabled, where high quality CPR was performed and no rescue breaths were given prior to EMS arrival.