Ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children: a survey on clinical practice

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the ventilation practice during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in children. Methods: An online survey of CPR practices was designed and sent to healthcare professionals treating children. Results: A total of 477 healthcare professionals from 46 countries responded to this survey; 92.7% were physicians and 64.2% worked in pediatric intensive care units. Specific CPR guidelines were used by 97.7% of respondents. The respiratory rate most frequently used for children over 12 months was 13 to 20 respirations per minute (rpm) (46% in intubated and 41.8% in non-intubated). For infants under 12 months, the most frequently used respiratory rate was 21 to 30 rpm in intubated patients (37.3%): in non-intubated infants, 13 to 20 rpm (26.5%) and 21 to 30 rpm (26.5%) were used with the same frequency. In North America, the respiratory rate most widely used was 7 to 12 rpm; higher rates (13 to 20 rpm and 21 to 30 rpm) were used in Europe and Latin America (P<0.001). After ROSC, no significant differences in the respiratory rates used were found between the continents. More than 40% of healthcare professionals had a target oxygen saturation below 94%; more than 10% used a target arterial PCO2 below 35 mmHg and more than 13% above 45 mmHg. Conclusions: There is considerable variation in the management of ventilation of children in cardiac arrest, and international recommendations are not being followed in a high percentage of cases.