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  • Original Article
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Rescuer fatigue during simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 142–145 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To assess development of fatigue during chest compressions (CCs) in simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Study design:

Prospective randomized manikin crossover study. Thirty neonatal healthcare professionals who successfully completed the Neonatal Resuscitation Program performed CPR using (i) 3:1 compression:ventilation (C:V) ratio, (ii) continuous CC with asynchronous ventilation (CCaV) at a rate of 90 CC per min and (iii) CCaV at 120 CC per min for a duration of 10 min on a neonatal manikin. Changes in peak pressure (a surrogate of fatigue) and CC rate were continuously recorded and fatigue among groups was compared. Participants were blinded to pressure tracings and asked to rate their level of comfort and fatigue for each CPR trial.

Result:

Compared with baseline, a significant decrease in peak pressure was observed after 72, 96 and 156 s in group CCaV-120, CCaV-90 and 3:1 C:V, respectively. CC depth decreased by 50% within the first 3 min during CCaV-120, 30% during CCaV-90 and 20% during 3:1 C:V. Moreover, 3:1 C:V and CCaV were similarly preferred by healthcare professionals.

Conclusion:

Similarly, 3:1 C:V and CCaV CPR were also fatiguing. We recommend that rescuers should switch after every second cycle of heart rate assessment during neonatal CPR.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all participating neonatal healthcare professionals who contributed to this study with their own enthusiasm and effort, and Tze-Fun Lee for statistical assistance. ESL is supported in part by the Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, and Neonatal Research Fund, Northern Alberta Neonatal Program, Alberta Health Services. GMS is a recipient of a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and an Alberta Innovates–Health Solutions Clinical Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    E S Li

  2. Neonatal Research Unit, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    E S Li, P-Y Cheung, M O'Reilly, K Aziz & G M Schmölzer

  3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    E S Li, P-Y Cheung, M O'Reilly, K Aziz & G M Schmölzer

  4. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria,

    G M Schmölzer

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  1. E S Li
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  2. P-Y Cheung
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  3. M O'Reilly
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  4. K Aziz
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Correspondence to G M Schmölzer.

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Li, E., Cheung, PY., O'Reilly, M. et al. Rescuer fatigue during simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. J Perinatol 35, 142–145 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.165

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