Evaluating pediatric advanced life support in emergency medical services with a performance and safety scoring tool

Nathan Bahr; Garth Meckler; Matthew Hansen; Jeanne-Marie Guise

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.061

Evaluating pediatric advanced life support in emergency medical services with a performance and safety scoring tool

Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Oct:48:301-306. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.061. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Authors

Nathan Bahr¹, Garth Meckler², Matthew Hansen³, Jeanne-Marie Guise⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: bahrn@ohsu.edu.
² Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA; OHSU-Portland State University School of Public Health, Portland, OR, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (P-OHCA) are infrequent, have low survival rates, and often have poor neurologic outcomes. Recent evidence indicates that high-performance emergency medical service (EMS) care can improve outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guideline performance in the out of hospital setting and introduce an easy-to-use tool that scores guideline compliance and patient safety.

Methods: We observed EMS teams responding to standardized pediatric resuscitation simulations. Teams were dispatched to a mock assisted living home for a choking 6-year-old with a complex medical history. The child manikin was presented as unconscious and apneic, with bradycardic pulse. Teams were expected to monitor vitals; initiate airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and establish vascular access and administer epinephrine based on PALS guidelines. We developed a tool to score the quality of care for critical tasks and had a clinical expert evaluate technical performance using blinded video review.

Results: We observed 34 EMS teams providing care in P-OHCA simulations. Teams were proficient at assessing vitals, using correct-sized equipment, intubation, and confirmation of tube placement. Teams were delayed in initiating positive pressure ventilation (PPV) and chest compressions. Many teams (53%) deviated from guidelines in chest compressions with 17 (50%) performing continuous compressions before establishing an advanced airway and one (3%) not performing compressions. Similarly, 20 (59%) teams deviated from medication guidelines with 12 (35%) failing to administer epinephrine, six (18%) underdosing, and two (6%) overdosing by more than 20%.

Conclusion: EMS teams were successful in selecting the appropriate equipment but delayed initiating ventilations in a child with severe bradycardia. We also noted frequent use of continuous chest CC rather than the AHA recommended 15:2 ratio. We developed a scoring tool with time-based criteria that can be used to assess guideline compliance, individual performance, and/or educational effectiveness.

Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Emergency medical services; Pediatric; Prehospital.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Advanced Cardiac Life Support / standards*
Emergency Medical Services / standards*
Emergency Medical Technicians
Female
Guideline Adherence
High Fidelity Simulation Training
Humans
Male
Manikins
Middle Aged
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
Pediatrics*
Quality Assurance, Health Care
Quality of Health Care
Time-to-Treatment

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding