The goal of this prospective observational study is to investigate B-mode point-of care ultrasound with arterial compressibility assessment on the femoral artery as a method to determine the presence of a pulse and to compare it with concurrently conducted manual pulse checks.
In this prospective observational study, a dedicated research team will be dispatched to cardiac arrest patients treated in the prehospital environment by emergency medical services (EMS). The team will use a portable ultrasound device to identify the femoral artery and employ B-mode ultrasound during rhythm checks. These ultrasound pulse checks will be conducted in parallel with the normal treatment of the patient, including manual pulse checks, and will only be conducted if ultrasound is possible without interference in the resuscitation. All treatment decisions will rest with the treating EMS team.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
69
Point-of-care ultrasound will be used to image the femoral vessels and to assess the presence or absence of a pulse and the compressibility of the artery during rhythm checks.
Emergency Medical Service of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
RECRUITINGResults of POCUS pulse check
If the femoral artery is both non-compressible and pulsatile, the POCUS pulse check will be considered positive
Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes
Results of the concurrently conducted manual pulse check
Parallel to our study team the treating team will conduct standard care, consisting of determining the presence or absence of a pulse by palpation. The results of these manual pulse checks will be recorded by our study team.
Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes
Arterial compressibility during chest compressions
Before each pulse check, during the last 30 seconds of cardiac compressions, the research team will apply pressure with the ultrasound probe until complete collapse of the femoral vein and visually assess if the neighbouring femoral is compressible as well.
Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes
Arterial compressibility during rhythm checks
The compressibility of the femoral artery during rhythm checks (part of the "POCUS pulse check" primary outcome) will be recorded and analysed, independently of pulsatility
Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes
Arterial pulsatility during rhythm checks
The pulsatility of the femoral artery during rhythm checks (part of the "POCUS pulse check" primary outcome) will be recorded and analysed, independently of compressibility
Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes
Time needed for POCUS pulse checks
The POCUS pulse checks will be recorded and the time until presence or absence of a pulse could be determined will be recorded in seconds
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Time frame: During cardiac arrest, up to 45 minutes