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The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) performs rigorous scientific evidence evaluation and publishes Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations. These evidence-based recommendations are incorporated by ILCOR constituent resuscitation councils to inform regional guidelines, and further translated into training approaches and materials and implemented by laypersons and healthcare providers in- and out-of-hospital. There is variation in council guidelines as a result of the weak strength of evidence and interpretation. In this manuscript, we highlight ten important similarities and differences in regional council pediatric resuscitation guidelines, and further emphasize three differences that identify key knowledge gaps and opportunity for "natural experiments.", (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: There are limited tools available following cardiac arrest to prognosticate neurologic outcomes. Prior retrospective and single center studies have demonstrated early EEG features are associated with neurologic outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of EEG for pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in a prospective, multicenter study., Methods: This cohort study is a secondary analysis of the ICU-Resuscitation trial, a multicenter randomized interventional trial conducted at 18 pediatric and pediatric cardiac ICUs in the United States. Patients who achieved return of circulation (ROC) and had post-ROC EEG monitoring were eligible for inclusion. Patients < 90 days old and those with pre-arrest Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scores > 3 were excluded. EEG features of interest included EEG Background Category, and presence of focal abnormalities, sleep spindles, variability, reactivity, periodic and rhythmic patterns, and seizures. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome. Associations between EEG features and outcomes were assessed with multivariable logistic regression. Prediction models with and without EEG Background Category were developed and receiver operator characteristic curves compared., Results: Of the 1129 patients with an index cardiac arrest who achieved ROC in the parent study, 261 had EEG within 24 h of ROC, of which 151 were evaluable. The cohort included 57% males with a median age of 1.1 years (IQR 0.4, 6.8). EEG features including EEG Background Category, sleep spindles, variability, and reactivity were associated with survival with favorable outcome and survival, (all p < 0.001). The addition of EEG Background Category to clinical models including age category, illness category, PRISM score, duration of CPR, first documented rhythm, highest early post-arrest arterial lactate improved the prediction accuracy achieving an AUROC of 0.84 (CI 0.77-0.92), compared to AUROC of 0.76 (CI 0.67-0.85) (p = 0.005) without EEG Background Category., Conclusion: This multicenter study demonstrates the value of EEG, in the first 24 h following ROC, for predicting survival with favorable outcome after a pediatric IHCA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of recent team leader simulation training (<6 months) and years of clinical experience (≥4 years) with chest compression quality during in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA)., Methods: This cohort study of IHCA in four Danish hospitals included cases with data on chest compression quality and team leader characteristics. We assessed the impact of recent simulation training and experienced team leaders on longest chest compression pause duration (primary outcome), chest compression fraction (CCF), and chest compression rates within guideline recommendations using mixed effects models., Results: Of 157 included resuscitation attempts, 45% had a team leader who recently participated in simulation training and 66% had an experienced team leader. The median team leader experience was 7 years [Q1; Q3: 4; 11]. The median duration of the longest chest compression pause was 16 s [10; 30]. Having a team leader with recent simulation training was associated with significantly shorter longest pause durations (difference: -7.11 s (95%-CI: -12.0; -2.2), p = 0.004), a higher CCF (difference: 3% (95%-CI: 2.0; 4.0%), p < 0.001) and with less guideline compliant chest compression rates (odds ratio: 0.4 (95%-CI: 0.19; 0.84), p = 0.02). Having an experienced team leader was not associated with longest pause duration (difference: -1.57 s (95%-CI: -5.34; 2.21), p = 0.42), CCF (difference: 0.7% (95%-CI: -0.3; 1.7), p = 0.17) or chest compression rates within guideline recommendations (odds ratio: 1.55 (95%-CI: 0.91; 2.66), p = 0.11)., Conclusion: Recent simulation training of team leaders, but not years of team leader experience, was associated with shorter chest compression pauses during IHCA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: JW serves as the Chair of the Young European Resuscitation Council (ERC). VMN is an executive committee member of ILCOR. He serves on the executive committee of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), but the views expressed in this manuscript are his, and are not intended to represent the opinion of the SCCM. VMN & RAB serves as editorial board members of Resuscitation. KGL is a member of the ILCOR Education, Implementation and Teams Task Force, serves as the Young ERC Resuscitation Plus Editor, and is an ERC Advanced Life Support Science and Education Committee member. BL, RPN, RH, KK, HK, and RAB declared no competing interest for this work., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Annually 15,200 children suffer an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in the US. Ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) is the initial rhythm in 10-15% of these arrests. We sought to evaluate the association of number of shocks and early dose escalation with survival for initial VF/pVT in pediatric IHCA., Methods: Using 2000-2020 data from the American Heart Association's (AHA) Get with the Guidelines®-Resuscitation (GWTG-R) registry, we identified children >48 hours of life and ≤18 years who had an IHCA from initial VF/pVT and received defibrillation., Results: There were 251 subjects (37.7%) who received a single shock and 415 subjects (62.3%) who received multiple shocks. Baseline and cardiac arrest characteristics did not differ between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks except for duration of arrest and calendar year. The median first shock dose was consistent with AHA dosing recommendations and not different between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks. Survival was improved for those who received a single shock compared to multiple shocks. However, no difference in survival was noted between those who received 2, 3, or ≥4 shocks. Of those receiving multiple shocks, no difference was observed with early dose escalation., Conclusions: In pediatric IHCA, most patients with initial VF/pVT require more than one shock. No distinctions in patient or pre-arrest characteristics were identified between those who received a single shock versus multiple shocks. Subjects who received a single shock were more likely to survive to hospital discharge even after adjusting for duration of resuscitation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: ‘Tia Raymond reports she is a paid consultant of New England Research Institutes, Inc., as a member of the adjudication committee for the COMPASS Trial (Comparison of Methods for Pulmonary Blood Flow Augmentation in Neonates: Shunt versus Stent. Dianne Atkins reports she is a paid member of the Data Monitoring Safety Board for the Pediatric Heart Network, a multicenter study funded by NHLBI’., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation engages in a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid science. Draft Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations are posted online throughout the year, and this annual summary provides more concise versions of the final Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations from all task forces for the year. Topics addressed by systematic reviews this year include resuscitation of cardiac arrest from drowning, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and children, calcium during cardiac arrest, double sequential defibrillation, neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest for adults and children, maintaining normal temperature after preterm birth, heart rate monitoring methods for diagnostics in neonates, detection of exhaled carbon dioxide in neonates, family presence during resuscitation of adults, and a stepwise approach to resuscitation skills training. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the quality of the evidence, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence-to-Decision Framework Highlights sections. In addition, the task forces list priority knowledge gaps for further research. Additional topics are addressed with scoping reviews and evidence updates., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend starting CPR for heart rates (HRs) less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) with poor perfusion. Objectives were to (1) compare HRs and arterial blood pressures (BPs) prior to CPR among patients with clinician-reported bradycardia with poor perfusion ("BRADY") vs. pulseless electrical activity (PEA); and (2) determine if hemodynamics prior to CPR are associated with outcomes., Methods and Results: Prospective observational cohort study performed as a secondary analysis of the ICU-RESUScitation trial (NCT028374497). Comparisons occurred (1) during the 15 seconds "immediately" prior to CPR and (2) over the two minutes prior to CPR, stratified by age (≤1 year, >1 year). Poisson regression models assessed associations between hemodynamics and outcomes. Primary outcome was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Pre-CPR HRs were lower in BRADY vs. PEA (≤1 year: 63.8 [46.5, 87.0] min -1 vs. 120 [93.2, 150.0], p < 0.001; >1 year: 67.4 [54.5, 87.0] min -1 vs. 100 [66.7, 120], p < 0.014). Pre-CPR pulse pressure was higher among BRADY vs. PEA (≤1 year (12.9 [9.0, 28.5] mmHg vs. 10.4 [6.1, 13.4] mmHg, p > 0.001). Pre-CPR pulse pressure ≥ 20 mmHg was associated with higher rates of ROSC among PEA (aRR 1.58 [CI95 1.07, 2.35], p = 0.022) and survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome in both groups (BRADY: aRR 1.28 [CI95 1.01, 1.62], p = 0.040; PEA: aRR 1.94 [CI95 1.19, 3.16], p = 0.008). Pre-CPR HR ≥ 60 bpm was not associated with outcomes., Conclusions: Pulse pressure and HR are used clinically to differentiate BRADY from PEA. A pre-CPR pulse pressure >20 mmHg was associated with improved patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Aim: To evaluate associations between characteristics of simulated point-of-care cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training with simulated and actual intensive care unit (ICU) CPR performance, and with outcomes of children after in-hospital cardiac arrest., Methods: This is a pre-specified secondary analysis of the ICU-RESUScitation Project; a prospective, multicentre cluster randomized interventional trial conducted in 18 ICUs from October 2016-March 2021. Point-of-care bedside simulations with real-time feedback to allow multidisciplinary ICU staff to practice CPR on a portable manikin were performed and quality metrics (rate, depth, release velocity, chest compression fraction) were recorded. Actual CPR performance was recorded for children 37 weeks post-conceptual age to 18 years who received chest compressions of any duration, and included intra-arrest haemodynamics and CPR mechanics. Outcomes included survival to hospital discharge with favourable neurologic status., Results: Overall, 18,912 point-of-care simulations were included. Simulation characteristics associated with both simulation and actual performance included site, participant discipline, and timing of simulation training. Simulation characteristics were not associated with survival with favourable neurologic outcome. However, participants in the top 3 sites for improvement in survival with favourable neurologic outcome were more likely to have participated in a simulation in the past month, on a weekday day, to be nurses, and to achieve targeted depth of compression and chest compression fraction goals during simulations than the bottom 3 sites., Conclusions: Point-of-care simulation characteristics were associated with both simulated and actual CPR performance. More recent simulation, increased nursing participation, and simulation training during daytime hours may improve CPR performance., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: ‘This study was funded by the following grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy ShriverNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development: R01HL131544, U01HD049934, UG1HD049981, UG1HD049983, UG1HD050096, UG1HD063108, UG1HD083166, UG1HD083170, UG1HD083171, and K23HL148541. Two of the co-authors, Dr. Robert Berg and Dr. Vinay Nadkarni, are members of the Resuscitation Editorial Board.’., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Previous studies have identified pulmonary hypertension (PH) as a relatively common diagnosis in children with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), and preclinical laboratory studies have found poor outcomes and low systemic blood pressures during CPR for PH-associated cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PH among children with IHCA and the association between PH diagnosis and intra-arrest physiology and survival outcomes., Methods: This was a prospectively designed secondary analysis of patients enrolled in the ICU-RESUS clinical trial (NCT02837497). The primary exposure was a pre-arrest diagnosis of PH. The primary survival outcome was survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurologic outcome (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score 1-3 or unchanged from baseline). The primary physiologic outcome was event-level average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during CPR., Results: Of 1276 patients with IHCAs during the study period, 1129 index IHCAs were enrolled; 184 (16.3%) had PH and 101/184 (54.9%) were receiving inhaled nitric oxide at the time of IHCA. Survival with favorable neurologic outcome was similar between patients with and without PH on univariate (48.9% vs. 54.4%; p = 0.17) and multivariate analyses (aOR 0.82 [95%CI: 0.56, 1.20]; p = 0.32). There were no significant differences in CPR event outcome or survival to hospital discharge. Average DBP, systolic BP, and end-tidal carbon dioxide during CPR were similar between groups., Conclusions: In this prospective study of pediatric IHCA, pre-existing PH was present in 16% of children. Pre-arrest PH diagnosis was not associated with statistically significant differences in survival outcomes or intra-arrest physiologic measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Financial support for this project was provided through the National Institutes of Health Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U01HD049934, UG1HD049981, UG1HD049983, UG1HD050096, UG1HD063108, UG1HD083166, UG1HD083170, and UG1HD083171) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL131544, R01HL147616, K23HL148541, and K23HL153759) and by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Resuscitation Science Center and Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The primary objective was to determine the association between clinician-reported use of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) to monitor cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (pIHCA) and survival outcomes., Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed in two cohorts: (1) Patients with an invasive airway in place at the time of arrest to evaluate ETCO2 use, and (2) patients with an arterial line in place at the time of arrest to evaluate DBP use. The primary exposure was clinician-reported use of ETCO2 or DBP. The primary outcome was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Propensity-weighted logistic regression evaluated the association between monitoring and outcomes., Setting: Hospitals reporting to the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines®- Resuscitation registry (2007-2021)., Patients: Children with index IHCA with an invasive airway or arterial line at the time of arrest., Results: Between January 2007 and May 2021, there were 15,280 pediatric CPR events with an invasive airway or arterial line in place at the time of arrest. Of 7159 events with an invasive airway, 6829 were eligible for analysis. Of 2978 events with an arterial line, 2886 were eligible. Clinicians reported using ETCO2 in 1335/6829 (20%) arrests and DBP in 1041/2886 (36%). Neither exposure was associated with ROSC. ETCO2 monitoring was associated with higher odds of 24-hour survival (aOR 1.17 [1.02, 1.35], p = 0.03)., Conclusions: Neither clinician-reported ETCO2 monitoring nor DBP monitoring during pIHCA were associated with ROSC. Monitoring of ETCO2 was associated with 24-hour survival., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Dr. Vinay Nadkarni is a member of the Editorial Board of Resuscitation., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Survival following pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has improved over the past 2 decades but data on survivors' long-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes in pediatric OHCA survivors more than one year after cardiac arrest., Methods: OHCA survivors <18 years old who received post-cardiac arrest care in the PICU at a single center between 2008-2018 were included. Parents of patients <18 years and patients ≥18 years at least one year after cardiac arrest completed a telephone interview. We assessed neurologic outcome (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category [PCPC]), activities of daily living (Pediatric Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended, Functional Status Scale (FSS)), HRQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Core and Family Impact Modules), and healthcare utilization. Unfavorable neurologic outcome was defined as PCPC > 1 or worsening from pre-arrest baseline to discharge., Findings: Forty four patients were evaluable. Follow-up occurred at a median of 5.6 years [IQR 4.4, 8.9] post-arrest. Median age at arrest was 5.3 [1.3,12.6] years; median CPR duration was 5 [1.5, 7] minutes. Survivors with unfavorable outcome at discharge had worse FSS Sensory and Motor Function scores and higher rates of rehabilitation service utilization. Parents of survivors with unfavorable outcome reported greater disruption to family functioning. Healthcare utilization and educational support requirements were common among all survivors., Conclusions: Survivors of pediatric OHCA with unfavorable outcome at discharge have more impaired function multiple years post-arrest. Survivors with favorable outcome may experience impairments and significant healthcare needs not fully captured by the PCPC at hospital discharge., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To evaluate associations between calcium administration and outcomes among children with in-hospital cardiac arrest and among specific subgroups in which calcium use is hypothesized to provide clinical benefit., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of observational data collected prospectively as part of the ICU-RESUScitation project. Children 37 weeks post-conceptual age to 18 years who received chest compressions in one of 18 intensive care units from October 2016-March 2021 were eligible. Data included child and event characteristics, pre-arrest laboratory values, pre- and intra-arrest haemodynamics, and outcomes. Outcomes included sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge, and survival to hospital discharge with favourable neurologic outcome. A propensity score weighted cohort was used to evaluate associations between calcium use and outcomes. Subgroups included neonates, and children with hyperkalaemia, sepsis, renal insufficiency, cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and calcium-avid cardiac diagnoses., Results: Of 1,100 in-hospital cardiac arrests, median age was 0.63 years (IQR 0.19, 3.81); 450 (41%) received calcium. Among the weighted cohort, calcium use was not associated with sustained ROSC (aOR, 0.87; CI95 0.61-1.24; p = 0.445), but was associated with lower rates of both survival to hospital discharge (aOR, 0.68; CI95 0.52-0.89; p = 0.005) and survival with favourable neurologic outcome at hospital discharge (aOR, 0.75; CI95 0.57-0.98; p = 0.038). Among subgroups, calcium use was associated with lower rates of survival to hospital discharge in children with sepsis and renal insufficiency., Conclusions: Calcium use was common during paediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest and associated with worse outcomes at hospital discharge., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This is the sixth annual summary of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. This summary addresses the most recently published resuscitation evidence reviewed by International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Task Force science experts. Topics covered by systematic reviews include cardiopulmonary resuscitation during transport; approach to resuscitation after drowning; passive ventilation; minimising pauses during cardiopulmonary resuscitation; temperature management after cardiac arrest; use of diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest; use of vasopressin and corticosteroids during cardiac arrest; coronary angiography after cardiac arrest; public-access defibrillation devices for children; pediatric early warning systems; maintaining normal temperature immediately after birth; suctioning of amniotic fluid at birth; tactile stimulation for resuscitation immediately after birth; use of continuous positive airway pressure for respiratory distress at term birth; respiratory and heart rate monitoring in the delivery room; supraglottic airway use in neonates; prearrest prediction of in-hospital cardiac arrest mortality; basic life support training for likely rescuers of high-risk populations; effect of resuscitation team training; blended learning for life support training; training and recertification for resuscitation instructors; and recovery position for maintenance of breathing and prevention of cardiac arrest. Members from 6 task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the quality of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria and generated consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence-to-Decision Framework Highlights sections, and priority knowledge gaps for future research are listed., (Copyright © 2022 The European Resuscitation Council, American Heart Association, Inc, International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To characterize chest compression (CC) pause duration during the last 5 minutes of pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to extracorporeal-CPR (E-CPR) cannulation and the association with survival outcomes., Methods: Cohort study from a resuscitation quality collaborative including pediatric E-CPR cardiac arrest events ≥ 10 min with CPR quality data. We characterized CC interruptions during the last 5 min of defibrillator-electrode recorded CPR (prior to cannulation) and assessed the association between the longest CC pause duration and survival outcomes using multivariable logistic regression., Results: Of 49 E-CPR events, median age was 2.0 [Q1, Q3: 0.6, 6.6] years, 55% (27/49) survived to hospital discharge and 18/49 (37%) with favorable neurological outcome. Median duration of CPR was 51 [43, 69] min. During the last 5 min of recorded CPR prior to cannulation, median duration of the longest CC pause was 14.0 [6.3, 29.4] sec: 66% >10 sec, 25% >29 sec, 14% >60 sec, and longest pause 168 sec. Following planned adjustment for known confounders of age and CPR duration, each 5-sec increase in longest CC pause duration was associated with lower odds of survival to hospital discharge [adjusted OR 0.89, 95 %CI: 0.79-0.99] and lower odds of survival with favorable neurological outcome [adjusted OR 0.77, 95 %CI: 0.60-0.98]., Conclusions: Long CC pauses were common during the last 5 min of recorded CPR prior to E-CPR cannulation. Following adjustment for age and CPR duration, each 5-second incremental increase in longest CC pause duration was associated with significantly decreased rates of survival and favorable neurological outcome., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim of Study: Recurrent in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is associated with morbidity and mortality in adults. We aimed to describe the risk factors and outcomes for paediatric recurrent IHCA., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients ≤18 years old with single or recurrent IHCA. Recurrent IHCA was defined as ≥2 IHCA within the same hospitalization. Categorical variables expressed as percentages and compared via Chi square test. Continuous variables expressed as medians with interquartile ranges and compared via rank sum test. Outcomes assessed in a propensity match cohort., Results: From July 1, 2015 to January 26, 2021, 139/894 (15.5%) patients experienced recurrent IHCA. Compared to patients with a single IHCA, recurrent IHCA patients were more likely to be trauma and less likely to be surgical cardiac patients. Median duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was shorter in the recurrent IHCA (5 vs. 11 min; p < 0.001) with no difference in IHCA location or immediate cause of CPR. Patients with recurrent IHCA had worse survival to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge (31% vs. 52%; p < 0.001), and worse survival to hospital discharge (30% vs. 48%; p < 0.001) in unadjusted analyses and after propensity matching, patients with recurrent IHCA still had worse survival to ICU (34% vs. 67%; p < 0.001) and hospital (31% vs. 64%; p < 0.001) discharge., Conclusion: When examining those with a single vs. a recurrent IHCA, event and patient factors including more pre-existing conditions and shorter duration of CPR were associated with risk for recurrent IHCA. Recurrent IHCA is associated with worse survival outcomes following propensity matching., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) among children with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and its association with survival., Methods: Children (<18 years) admitted to ICUs participating in the Virtual Pediatric Systems multicenter registry between January 2011 and December 2017 who had an IHCA during their hospitalization were included. Patients were classified by whether they had a documented diagnosis of PH at the time of IHCA. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with and without PH. After propensity score matching, conditional logistic regression within the matched cohort determined the association between PH and survival to hospital discharge., Results: Of 18,575 children with IHCA during the study period, 1,590 (8.6%) had a pre-arrest diagnosis of PH. Patients with PH were more likely to be 29 days to 2 years of age, female, Black/African American, and American Indian/Alaskan Native, and to be treated in a cardiac ICU or mixed PICU/cardiac ICU. At ICU admission, PH patients had a lower probability of death as determined by the Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM-2) score. Patients with PH were more likely to be receiving inhaled nitric oxide (13.0% vs. 2.1%; p < 0.001). Propensity score matching successfully matched 1,302 PH patients with 3,604 non-PH patients. Patients with PH were less likely to survive to hospital discharge (aOR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72-0.95; p = 0.01) than non-PH patients., Conclusions: In this large multicenter study, 8.6% of children with IHCA had pre-existing documented PH. These children were less likely to survive to hospital discharge than those without PH., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Guideline deviations with impact on patient outcomes frequently occur during in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, barriers and facilitators for preventing these guideline deviations are understudied. We aimed to characterize challenges occurring during IHCA and identify barriers and facilitators perceived by actual team members immediately following IHCA events., Methods: This was a prospective multicenter clinical study. Following each resuscitation attempt in 6 hospitals over a 4-year period, we immediately sent web-based structured questionnaires to all responding team members, reporting their perceived resuscitation quality, teamwork, and communication and what they perceived as barriers or facilitators. Comments were analyzed using qualitative inductive thematic analysis methodology., Results: We identified 924 resuscitation attempts and 3,698 survey responses were collected including 2,095 qualitative comments (response rate: 65%). Most frequent challenges were overcrowding (27%) and poor ergonomics/choreography of people in the room (17%). Narrative comments aligned into 24 unique barrier and facilitator themes in 4 domains: 6 related to treatment (most prevalent: CPR, rhythm check, equipment), 7 for teamwork (most prevalent: role allocation, crowd control, collaboration with ward staff), 6 for leadership (most prevalent: visible and distinct leader, multiple leaders, leader experience), and 5 for communication (most prevalent: closed loops, atmosphere in room, speaking loud/clear)., Conclusion: Using novel, immediate after-event survey methodology of individual cardiac arrest team members, we characterized challenges and identified 24 themes within 4 domains that were barriers and facilitators for in-hospital resuscitation teams. We believe this level of detail is necessary to contextualize guidelines and training to facilitate high-quality resuscitation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Studies of pediatric cardiac arrest use inconsistent outcomes, including return of spontaneous circulation and short-term survival, and basic assessments of functional and neurological status. In 2018, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation sponsored the COSCA initiative (Core Outcome Set After Cardiac Arrest) to improve consistency in reported outcomes of clinical trials of adult cardiac arrest survivors and supported this P-COSCA initiative (Pediatric COSCA). The P-COSCA Steering Committee generated a list of potential survival, life impact, and economic impact outcomes and assessment time points that were prioritized by a multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers, researchers, and parents/caregivers of children who survived cardiac arrest. Then expert panel discussions achieved consensus on the core outcomes, the methods to measure those core outcomes, and the timing of the measurements. The P-COSCA includes assessment of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills. Survival and brain function are assessed at discharge or 30 days (or both if possible) and between 6 and 12 months after arrest. Cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed between 6 and 12 months after cardiac arrest. Because many children have prearrest comorbidities, the P-COSCA also includes documentation of baseline (ie, prearrest) brain function and calculation of changes after cardiac arrest. Supplementary outcomes of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed at 3 months and beyond 1 year after cardiac arrest if resources are available., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improved systemic hemodynamics and outcomes in a preclinical model of adult in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and may also have a neuroprotective role following cardiac arrest. The primary objectives of this study were to determine if iNO during CPR would improve cerebral hemodynamics and mitochondrial function in a pediatric model of lipopolysaccharide-induced shock-associated IHCA., Methods: After lipopolysaccharide infusion and ventricular fibrillation induction, 20 1-month-old piglets received hemodynamic-directed CPR and were randomized to blinded treatment with or without iNO (80 ppm) during and after CPR. Defibrillation attempts began at 10 min with a 20-min maximum CPR duration. Cerebral tissue from animals surviving 1-h post-arrest underwent high-resolution respirometry to evaluate the mitochondrial electron transport system and immunohistochemical analyses to assess neuropathology., Results: During CPR, the iNO group had higher mean aortic pressure (41.6 ± 2.0 vs. 36.0 ± 1.4 mmHg; p = 0.005); diastolic BP (32.4 ± 2.4 vs. 27.1 ± 1.7 mmHg; p = 0.03); cerebral perfusion pressure (25.0 ± 2.6 vs. 19.1 ± 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.02); and cerebral blood flow relative to baseline (rCBF: 243.2 ± 54.1 vs. 115.5 ± 37.2%; p = 0.02). Among the 8/10 survivors in each group, the iNO group had higher mitochondrial Complex I oxidative phosphorylation in the cerebral cortex (3.60 [3.56, 3.99] vs. 3.23 [2.44, 3.46] pmol O 2 /s mg; p = 0.01) and hippocampus (4.79 [4.35, 5.18] vs. 3.17 [2.75, 4.58] pmol O 2 /s mg; p = 0.02). There were no other differences in mitochondrial respiration or brain injury between groups., Conclusions: Treatment with iNO during CPR resulted in superior systemic hemodynamics, rCBF, and cerebral mitochondrial Complex I respiration in this pediatric cardiac arrest model., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Context: Parent/family presence at pediatric resuscitations has been slow to become consistent practice in hospital settings and has not been universally implemented. A systematic review of the literature on family presence during pediatric and neonatal resuscitation has not been previously conducted., Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the published evidence related to family presence during pediatric and neonatal resuscitation., Data Sources: Six major bibliographic databases was undertaken with defined search terms and including literature up to June 14, 2020., Study Selection: 3200 titles were retrieved in the initial search; 36 ultimately included for review., Data Extraction: Data was double extracted independently by two reviewers and confirmed with the review team. All eligible studies were either survey or interview-based and as such we turned to narrative systematic review methodology., Results: The authors identified two key sets of findings: first, parents/family members want to be offered the option to be present for their child's resuscitation. Secondly, health care provider attitudes varied widely (ranging from 15% to >85%), however, support for family presence increased with previous experience and level of seniority., Limitations: English language only; lack of randomized control trials; quality of the publications., Conclusions: Parents wish to be offered the opportunity to be present but opinions and perspectives on the family presence vary greatly among health care providers. This topic urgently needs high quality, comparative research to measure the actual impact of family presence on patient, family and staff outcomes., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42020140363., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for pediatric life support is based on the most extensive evidence evaluation ever performed by the Pediatric Life Support Task Force. Three types of evidence evaluation were used in this review: systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence updates. Per agreement with the evidence evaluation recommendations of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, only systematic reviews could result in a new or revised treatment recommendation. Systematic reviews performed for this 2020 CoSTR for pediatric life support included the topics of sequencing of airway-breaths-compressions versus compressions-airway-breaths in the delivery of pediatric basic life support, the initial timing and dose intervals for epinephrine administration during resuscitation, and the targets for oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in pediatric patients after return of spontaneous circulation. The most controversial topics included the initial timing and dose intervals of epinephrine administration (new treatment recommendations were made) and the administration of fluid for infants and children with septic shock (this latter topic was evaluated by evidence update). All evidence reviews identified the paucity of pediatric data and the need for more research involving resuscitation of infants and children., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends first defibrillation energy dose of 2 Joules/kilogram (J/kg) for pediatric cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT). However, optimal first energy dose remains unclear., Methods: Using AHA Get With the Guidelines-Resuscitation® (GWTG-R) database, we identified children ≤12 years with IHCA due to VF/pVT. Primary exposure was energy dose in J/kg. We categorized energy doses: 1.7-2.5 J/kg as reference (reflecting 2 J/kg intended dose), <1.7 J/kg and >2.5 J/kg. We compared survival for reference doses to all other doses. We constructed models to test association of energy dose with survival; adjusting for age, location, illness category, initial rhythm and vasoactive medications., Results: We identified 301 patients ≤12 years with index IHCA and initial VF/pVT. Survival to discharge was significantly lower with energy doses other than 1.7-2.5 J/kg. Individual dose categories of <1.7 J/kg or >2.5 J/kg were not associated with differences in survival. For patients with initial VF, doses >2.5 J/kg had worse survival compared to reference. For all patients ≤18 years (n = 422), there were no differences in survival between dosing categories. However, all ≤18 with initial VF receiving >2.5 J/kg had worse survival., Conclusions: First energy doses other than 1.7-2.5 J/kg are associated with lower rate of survival to hospital discharge in patients ≤12 years old with initial VF/pVT, and first doses >2.5 J/kg had lower survival rates in all patients ≤18 years old with initial VF. These results support current AHA guidelines for first pediatric defibrillation energy dose of 2 J/kg., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Patients who suffer in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) are less likely to survive if the arrest occurs during nighttime versus daytime. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as a measure of chest compression quality was associated with survival from pediatric IHCA. We hypothesized that DBP during CPR for IHCA is lower during nighttime versus daytime., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data collected from the Pediatric Intensive Care Quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Study. Pediatric or Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit patients who received chest compressions for ≥1 min and who had invasive arterial BP monitoring were enrolled. Nighttime was defined as 11:00PM to 6:59AM and daytime as 7:00AM until 10:59PM. Primary outcome was attainment of DBP ≥ 25 mmHg in infants <1 year and ≥30 mmHg in older children. Secondary outcomes were mean DBP, ROSC, and survival to hospital discharge. Univariable and multivariate analyses evaluated the relationships between time (nighttime vs. daytime) and outcomes., Results: Between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2016, 164 arrests met all inclusion/exclusion criteria: 45(27%) occurred at nighttime and 119(73%) during daytime. Average DBPs achieved were not different between groups (DBP: nighttime 28.3 mmHg[25.3, 36.5] vs. daytime 29.6 mmHg[21.8, 38.0], p = 0.64). Relative risk of DBP threshold met during nighttime vs. daytime was 1.27, 95%CI [0.80, 1.98], p = 0.30. There was no significant nighttime vs. daytime difference in ROSC (28/45[62%] vs. 84/119[71%] p = 0.35) or survival to hospital discharge (16/45[36%] vs. 61/119[51%], p = 0.08)., Conclusions: In this cohort of pediatric ICU patients with IHCA, there was no significant difference in DBP during CPR between nighttime and daytime., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrests and cardiopulmonary resuscitation occur >15,000/year in the US, few studies have assessed which factors affect the course of resuscitation in these patients. We investigated transitions from Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) to Ventricular Fibrillation/pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (VF/pVT), Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) and recurrences from ROSC to PEA in children and adolescents with in-hospital cardiac arrest., Methods: Episodes of cardiac arrest at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were prospectively registered. Defibrillators that recorded chest compression depth/rate and ventilation rate were applied. CPR variables, patient characteristics and etiology, and dynamic factors (e.g. the proportion of time spent in PEA or ROSC) were entered as time-varying covariates for the transition intensities under study., Results: In 67 episodes of CPR in 59 patients (median age 15 years) with cardiac arrest, there were 52 transitions from PEA to ROSC, 22 transitions from PEA to VF/pVT, and 23 recurrences of PEA from ROSC. Except for a nearly significant effect of mean compression depth beyond a threshold of 5.7 cm, only dynamic factors that evolved during CPR favored a transition from PEA to ROSC. The latter included a lower proportion of PEA over the last 5 min and a higher proportion of ROSC over the last 5 min. Factors associated with PEA to VF/pVT development were age, weight, the proportion spent in VF/pVT or PEA the last 5 min, and the general transition intensity, while PEA recurrence from ROSC only depended on the general transition intensity., Conclusion: The clinical course during pediatric cardiac arrest was mainly influenced by dynamic factors associated with time in PEA and ROSC. Transitions from PEA to ROSC seemed to be favored by deeper compressions., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: Since over 80% of sudden cardiac arrests occur in the home, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for family members of high-risk cardiac patients represents a promising intervention. The use of mobile application-based (mApp) CPR training may facilitate this approach, but evidence regarding its efficacy is lacking., Methods: We conducted a multicenter, pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial assessing CPR training for family members of cardiac patients. The interventions were mApp (video, no manikin) and VSI (video + manikin). CPR skills were evaluated 6-months post-training. We hypothesized that chest compression (CC) rate from training with an mApp would be no worse than 5 compressions per minute (CPM) lower compared to VSI., Results: From 01/2016 to 01/2018, we enrolled 1325 eligible participants (mean age 51.6 years, 68.2% female and 59.4% white). CPR skills were evaluated 6-months post-training in 541 participants (275 VSI, 266 mApp). Mean rate was 84.6 CPM (95% CI: 80.4, 88.6) in VSI, compared to 82.7 CPM (95% CI: 76.2, 89.1) in the mApp, and mean depth was 42.1 mm (95% CI: 40.3, 43.8) in VSI, compared to 38.9 mm (95% CI: 36.2, 41.6) in the mApp. After adjustment, the mean difference in CC rate was -2.3 CPM (95% CI -9.4, 4.8, p = 0.25, non-inferiority) and CC depth was -3.2 mm (95% CI -5.9, 0.1, p = 0.056)., Conclusion: In this large prospective trial of CPR skill retention for family members of cardiac patients, mApp training was associated with lower CC quality. Future work is required to understand additional approaches to improve CPR skill retention., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT02548793., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Deviations (DEVs) from resuscitation guidelines are associated with worse outcomes after adult in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), but impact during pediatric IHCA is unknown., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation registry. Children who had an index IHCA of ≥1 min from 2000 to 2014 were included. DEVs are defined by the registry by category (airway, medications, etc.) A composite measure termed circulation DEV(C-DEV), defined as at least one process deviation in the following categories: medications, defibrillation, vascular access, or chest compressions, was the primary exposure variable. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Mixed-effect models with random intercept for each hospital assessed the relationship of DEVs with survival to hospital discharge. Robustness of findings was assessed via planned secondary analysis using propensity score matching., Results: Among 7078 eligible index IHCA events, 1200 (17.0%) had DEVs reported. Airway DEVs (466; 38.8%) and medication DEVs (321; 26.8%) were most common. C-DEVs were present in 629 (52.4%). Before matching, C-DEVs were associated with decreased rate of ROSC (aOR = 0.53, CI95: 0.43-0.64, p < 0.001) and survival to hospital discharge (aOR = 0.71, CI95: 0.60-0.86, p < 0.001). In the matched cohort (C-DEV n = 573, no C-DEV n = 1146), C-DEVs were associated with decreased rate of ROSC (aOR 0.76, CI95 0.60-0.96, p = 0.02), but no association with survival to hospital discharge (aOR 1.01, CI95 0.81-1.25, p = 0.96)., Conclusions: DEVs were common in this cohort of pediatric IHCA. In a propensity matched cohort, while survival to hospital discharge was similar between groups, events with C-DEVs were less likely to achieve ROSC., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The mathematical method used to calculate chest compression (CC) rate during cardiopulmonary resuscitation varies in the literature and across device manufacturers. The objective of this study was to determine the variability in calculated CC rates by applying four published methods to the same dataset., Methods: This study was a secondary investigation of the first 200 pediatric cardiac arrest events with invasive arterial line waveform data in the ICU-RESUScitation Project (NCT02837497). Instantaneous CC rates were calculated during periods of uninterrupted CCs. The defined minimum interruption length affects rate calculation (e.g., if an interruption is defined as a break in CCs ≥ 2 s, the lowest possible calculated rate is 30 CCs/min). Average rates were calculated by four methods: 1) rate with an interruption defined as ≥ 1 s; 2) interruption ≥ 2 s; 3) interruption ≥ 3 s; 4) method #3 excluding top and bottom quartiles of calculated rates. American Heart Association Guideline-compliant rate was defined as 100-120 CCs/min. A clinically important change was defined as ±5 CCs/min. The percentage of events and epochs (30 s periods) that changed Guideline-compliant status was calculated., Results: Across calculation methods, mean CC rates (118.7-119.5/min) were similar. Comparing all methods, 14 events (7%) and 114 epochs (6%) changed Guideline-compliant status., Conclusion: Using four published methods for calculating CC rate, average rates were similar, but 7% of events changed Guideline-compliant status. These data suggest that a uniform calculation method (interruption ≥ 1 s) should be adopted to decrease variability in resuscitation science., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Recommendations for standardised communication to reduce chest compression (CC) pauses are lacking. We aimed to achieve consensus and evaluate feasibility and efficacy using standardised communication during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events., Methods: Modified Delphi consensus process to design standardised communication elements. Feasibility was pilot tested in 16 simulated CPR scenarios (8 scenarios with physician team leaders and 8 with chest compressors) randomized (1:1) to standardised [INTERVENTION] vs. closed-loop communication [CONTROL]. Adherence and efficacy (duration of CC pauses for defibrillation, intubation, rhythm check) was assessed by audiovisual recording. Mental demand and frustration were assessed by NASA task load index subscales., Results: Consensus elements for standardised communication included: 1) team preparation 15-30 s before CC interruption, 2) pre-interruption countdown synchronized with last 5 CCs, 3) specific action words for defibrillation, intubation, and interrupting/resuming CCs. Median (Q1,Q3) adherence to standardised phrases was 98% (80%,100%). Efficacy analysis showed a median [Q1,Q3] peri-shock pause of 5.1 s. [4.4; 5.8] vs. 7.5 s. [6.3; 8.8] seconds, p < 0.001, intubation pause of 3.8 s. [3.6; 5.0] vs. 6.9 s. [4.8; 10.1] seconds, p = 0.03, rhythm check pause of 4.2 [3.2,5.7] vs. 8.6 [5.0,10.5] seconds, p < 0.001, median frustration index of 10/100 [5,20] vs. 35/100 [25,50], p < 0.001, and median mental demand load of 55/100 [30,70] vs. 65/100 [50,85], p = 0.41 for standardised vs. closed loop communication., Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated feasibility of using consensus-based standardised communication that was associated with shorter CC pauses for defibrillation, intubation, and rhythm checks without increasing frustration index or mental demand compared to current best practice, closed loop communication., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: To assess visual attention of neonatal team leaders during delivery room resuscitation of preterm infants using eye tracking glasses., Methods: Prospective observational eye tracking study. Gaze fixations and sequences were captured, categorized, and mapped during the first 5 min of the resuscitations. Gaze fixation metrics of total gaze duration, visit count, and visit duration were summarized and compared based on interventions performed and provider training level. Fixation sequences were compared between attending neonatologists and fellows., Results: During 18 eye tracking recordings, practitioners focused most of their cumulative visual attention on the infant (median total gaze duration 57%, interquartile range [IQR] 38-61%), followed by monitors (24%, IQR 13-46%), clinical staff (5%, IQR 1-8%), other physical objects (4%, IQR 3-6%), T-piece resuscitator (2%, IQR 0-4%) and the Apgar timer (1%, IQR 0-2%). Visual attention parameters varied according to intervention, with higher visit counts on the infant during corrective ventilation steps than during Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV), and longer visit durations on monitors during PPV. Time and frequency-based measures of visual attention did not significantly differ by provider training level, but patterned fixation sequences were identified among attending neonatologists that were not observed in fellows., Conclusion: Team leaders predominantly gazed upon the infant and monitors during resuscitation, and visual attention parameters varied depending on the respiratory interventions performed. Attending neonatologists exhibited patterned fixation sequences that were not observed in fellows. Study results may have implications for optimizing delivery room design and training novice providers., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has been reported to be worse for arrests at night or during weekends.This study aimed to determine whether measured cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality metrics might explain this difference in outcomes., Methods: IHCA data was collected by the Pediatric Resuscitation Quality (pediRES-Q) collaborative for patients <18 years. Metrics of CPR quality [chest compression rate, depth and fraction] were measured using monitordefibrillator pads, and events were compared by time of day and day of week., Results: We evaluated 6915 sixty-second epochs of chest compression (CC) data from 239 subjects between October 2015 and March 2019, across 18 hospitals. There was no significant difference in CPR quality metrics during day (07:00-22:59) versus night (23:00-06:59), or weekdays (Monday 07:00 to Friday 22:59) versus weekends (Friday 23:00 to Monday 06:59).There was also no difference in rate of return of circulation. However, survival to hospital discharge was higher for arrests that occurred during the day (39.1%) vs. nights (22.4%, p = 0.015), as well as on weekdays (39.9%) vs. weekends (19.1%, p = 0.003)., Conclusions: For pediatric IHCA where CC metrics were obtained, there was no significant difference in CPR quality metrics or rate of return of circulation by time of day or day of week. There was higher survival to hospital discharge when arrests occurred during the day (vs. nights), or on weekdays (vs. weekends), and this difference was not related to disparities in CC quality., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation has initiated a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation science. This is the third annual summary of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. It addresses the most recent published resuscitation evidence reviewed by International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Task Force science experts. This summary addresses the role of cardiac arrest centers and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the role of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults and children, vasopressors in adults, advanced airway interventions in adults and children, targeted temperature management in children after cardiac arrest, initial oxygen concentration during resuscitation of newborns, and interventions for presyncope by first aid providers. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the certainty of the evidence on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence to Decision Framework Highlights sections. The task forces also listed priority knowledge gaps for further research., (Copyright © 2019 European Resuscitation Council and American Heart Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To identify EEG changes that could predict impending cardiac arrest (CA) in neonates with congenital heart disease undergoing postoperative continuous EEG monitoring., Methods: Single-center observational study of neonates who underwent cardiac surgery and had CA postoperatively while undergoing EEG monitoring from 2012-2018. Clinical data were extracted from the medical record. EEG backgrounds were evaluated at defined time-points using standardized terminology., Results: We assessed 22 neonates. The median gestational age was 38.7 weeks (IQR 37.6, 39), the median age at surgery was 5 days (IQR 2, 8), 12 patients (55%) underwent repair for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and the median time from cardiac intensive care unit arrival postoperatively to CA was 9.5 h (IQR 7, 23). The initial EEG background was abnormal in 15 (68%). All 22 neonates (100%) had worsening of the EEG background prior to initiation of chest compressions for CA at a median of 3 min (IQR 1.5, 3). Eighteen neonates (82%) had an EEG change more than 1 min prior to chest compressions. The EEG backgrounds immediately prior to CA were continuous low voltage in 1 (5%), excessive discontinuity in 8 (36%), burst-suppression in 2 (9%), and low voltage suppression in 11 (50%)., Conclusion: EEG background was abnormal in 68% of neonates at EEG monitoring onset and worsened in all minutes before CA. EEG background changes may be an early sign of impending CA and indicative of developing cerebral dysfunction. Further study is needed to determine whether rapid identification of EEG changes could drive implementation of interventions to prevent CA., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Utstein-style reporting templates provide a structured framework with which to compare systems of care for cardiac arrest. The 2004 Utstein reporting template encompassed both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest. A 2015 update of the Utstein template focused on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which makes this update of the in-hospital template timely. Representatives of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation developed an updated in-hospital Utstein reporting template iteratively by meeting face-to-face, by teleconference, and by online surveys between 2013 and 2018. Data elements were grouped by hospital factors, patient variables, pre-event factors, cardiac arrest and postresuscitation processes, and outcomes. Elements were classified as core or supplemental by use of a modified Delphi process. Variables were described as core if they were considered essential. Core variables should enable reasonable comparisons between systems and are considered essential for quality improvement programs. Together with core variables, supplementary variables are considered useful for research., (Copyright © 2019 European Resuscitation Council, American Heart Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with survival following pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest. The relationship between intra-arrest haemodynamics and neurological status among survivors of pediatric cardiac arrest is unknown., Methods: This study represents analysis of data from the prospective multicenter Pediatric Intensive Care Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (PICqCPR) Study. Primary predictor variables were median DBP and median systolic blood pressure (SBP) over the first 10min of CPR. The primary outcome measure was "new substantive morbidity" determined by Functional Status Scale (FSS) and defined as an increase in the FSS of at least 3 points or increase of 2 in a single FSS domain. Univariable analyses were completed to investigate the relationship between new substantive morbidity and BPs during CPR., Results: 244 index CPR events occurred during the study period, 77 (32%) CPR events met all inclusion criteria as well as having both DBP and FSS data available. Among 77 survivors, 32 (42%) had new substantive morbidity as measured by the FSS score. No significant differences were identified in DBP (median 30.5mmHg vs. 30.9mmHg, p=0.5) or SBP (median 76.3mmHg vs. 63.0mmHg, p=0.2) between patients with and without new substantive morbidity. Children who developed new substantive morbidity were more likely to have lower pre-arrest FSS than those that did not (median [IQR]: 7.5 [6.0-9.0] versus 9.0 [7.0-13.0], p=0.01)., Conclusion: New substantive morbidity determined by FSS after a pediatric IHCA was associated with baseline functional status, but not DBP during CPR., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To evaluate the Inadequate oxygen delivery (IDO 2 ) index dose as a predictor of cardiac arrest (CA) in neonates following congenital heart surgery., Methods: Retrospective cohort study in 3 US pediatric cardiac intensive units (1/2011- 8/2016). Calculated IDO 2 index values were blinded to bedside clinicians and generated from data collected up to 30 days postoperatively, or until death or ECMO initiation. Control event data was collected from patients who did not experience CA or require ECMO. IDO 2 dose was computed over a 120-min window up to 30 min prior to the CA and control events. A multivariate logistic regression prediction model including the IDO 2 dose and presence or absence of a single ventricle (SV) was used. Model performance metrics were the odds ratio for each regression coefficient and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC)., Results: Of 897 patients monitored during the study period, 601 met inclusion criteria: 29 patients had CA (33 events) and 572 patients were used for control events. Seventeen (59%) CA and 125 (26%) control events occurred in SV patients. Median age/weight at surgery and level of monitoring were similar in both groups. Median postoperative event time was 0.73 days [0.05-22.39] in CA patients and 0.82 days [0.08 25.11] in control patients. Odds ratio of the IDO 2 dose coefficient was 1.008 (95% CI: 1.006-1.012, p = 0.0445), and 2.952 (95% CI: 2.952-3.258, p = 0.0079) in SV. The ROC AUC using both coefficients was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.73-0.75). These associations of IDO 2 dose with CA risk remained robust, even when censored periods prior to arrest were 10 and 20 min., Conclusion: In neonates post-CPB surgery, higher IDO 2 index dose over a 120-min monitoring period is associated with increased risk of cardiac arrest, even when censoring data 10, 20 or 30 min prior to the CA event., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Approximately 40% of children who have an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in the US survive to discharge. We aimed to evaluate the impact of post-cardiac arrest hypotension during targeted temperature management following IHCA on survival to discharge., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the therapeutic hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrest in-hospital (THAPCA-IH) trial. "Early hypotension" was defined as a systolic blood pressure less than the fifth percentile for age and sex for patients not treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or a mean arterial pressure less than fifth percentile for age and sex for patients treated with ECMO during the first 6 h of temperature intervention. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge., Results: Of 299 children, 142 (47%) patients did not receive ECMO and 157 (53%) received ECMO. Forty-two of 142 (29.6%) non-ECMO patients had systolic hypotension. Twenty-three of 157 (14.7%) ECMO patients had mean arterial hypotension. After controlling for confounders of interest, non-ECMO patients who had early systolic hypotension were less likely to survive to hospital discharge (40.5% vs. 72%; adjusted OR [aOR] 0.34; 95%CI, 0.12-0.93). There was no difference in survival to discharge by blood pressure groups for children treated with ECMO (30.4% vs. 49.3%; aOR = 0.60; 95%CI, 0.22-1.63)., Conclusions: In this secondary analysis of the THAPCA-IH trial, in patients not treated with ECMO, systolic hypotension within 6 h of temperature intervention was associated with lower odds of discharge survival. Blood pressure groups in patients treated with ECMO were not associated with survival to discharge., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: In-hospital cardiac arrest occurs in >5000 children each year in the US and almost half will not survive to discharge. Animal data demonstrate that an immediate post-resuscitation burst of hypertension is associated with improved survival. We aimed to determine if systolic and diastolic invasive arterial blood pressures immediately (0-20 min) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) are associated with survival and neurologic outcomes at hospital discharge., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Pediatric Intensive Care Quality of CPR (PICqCPR) study of invasively measured blood pressures during intensive care unit CPR. Patients were eligible if they achieved ROSC and had at least one invasively measured blood pressure within the first 20 min following ROSC. Post-ROSC blood pressures were normalized for age, sex and height. "Immediate hypertension" was defined as at least one systolic or diastolic blood pressure >90th percentile. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge., Results: Of 102 children, 70 (68.6%) had at least one episode of immediate post-CPR diastolic hypertension. After controlling for pre-existing hypotension, duration of CPR, calcium administration, and first documented rhythm, patients with immediate post-CPR diastolic hypertension were more likely to survive to hospital discharge (79.3% vs. 54.5%; adjusted OR = 2.93; 95%CI, 1.16-7.69)., Conclusions: In this post hoc secondary analysis of the PICqCPR study, 68.6% of subjects had diastolic hypertension within 20 min of ROSC. Immediate post-ROSC hypertension was associated with increased odds of survival to discharge, even after adjusting for covariates of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Animal studies have established deleterious hemodynamic effects of interrupting chest compressions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of interruptions on invasively measured blood pressures (BPs) during pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA)., Methods: This was a single-center, observational study of pediatric (<18 years) intensive care unit IHCAs in patients with invasive arterial catheters in place. Interruptions were defined as ≥1 s between chest compressions. Diastolic BP (DBP) and systolic BP (SBP) were determined for individual compressions. For the primary analysis, the average DBP and SBP of the 20 compressions preceding each interruption were compared to the average DBP and SBP of the first 20 compressions following each interruption utilizing non-parametric paired analyses. Linear regression evaluated the change in DBP during interruptions and following interruptions., Results: Thirty-two IHCA events met inclusion criteria, yielding 161 evaluable interruptions. The median age was 2.1 years. Return of circulation was achieved in 24 (75%). The median interruption duration was 2.4 [1.4, 7.0] seconds. Most patients were intubated pre-arrest and received epinephrine during CPR. BPs were not different pre- vs. post-interruption (DBP: 28.7 [21.6, 38.2] vs. 28.3 [21.0, 37.4] mmHg, p = 0.81; SBP: 82.0 [51.7, 116.7] vs. 85.4 [55.7, 122.2] mmHg, p = 0.07). DBP decreased 8.41 ± 0.73 mmHg (p < 0.001) during the first second of interruptions and 0.19 ± 0.02 mmHg/s (p < 0.001) in subsequent seconds., Conclusions: BPs following chest compression interruptions did not differ from pre-interruption BPs. These findings suggest that in the setting of high-quality in-hospital CPR, brief chest compression interruptions do not have persistent detrimental hemodynamic impact., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Although recent out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) trials found no benefits of hypothermia versus normothermia targeted temperature management, preclinical models suggest earlier timing of hypothermia improves neuroprotective efficacy. This study investigated whether shorter time to goal temperature was associated with better one-year outcomes in the Therapeutic Hypothermia After Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Out-of-Hospital Trial., Methods: Patients were classified by tertiles of time to attain assigned goal temperature range (32-34°C or 36-37.5°C) following ROSC. Outcomes in the first tertile ("earlier") Group 1 were compared with second and third tertiles ("later") Group 2. Separate analyses were, additionally, completed for hypothermia and normothermia intervention groups. Three one-year outcomes were examined: survival; Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS-II) score≥70; and decrease in VABS-II≤15 points from baseline., Results: In the entire cohort (n=281), median time from ROSC to goal temperature was 7.4 [IQR 6.2-9.7] hours: Group 1, 5.8 [IQR 5.2, 6.2] and Group 2, 8.8 [IQR 7.4, 10.4] h. Outcomes did not differ between these groups. For hypothermia subgroup, survival was lower in Group 1 than 2, [10/49(20%) versus 47/99(47%), p<0.002], with a trend toward fewer with VABS-II scores≥70 and change in VABS-II≤15 points (p=0.07-0.08). For normothermia subgroup, there was a trend toward higher survival in Group 1 than 2 [18/42(43%) versus 21/83(25%), p=0.065], but no differences in VABS-II-related measures. In multivariable logistic regression models, no difference in earlier and later groups or temperature intervention was observed., Conclusion: We found no evidence that earlier time to goal temperature was associated with better outcomes., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

During paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), patients may transition between pulseless electrical activity (PEA), asystole, ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia (VF/VT), and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The aim of this study was to quantify the dynamic characteristics of this process., Methods: ECG recordings were collected in patients who received CPR at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) between 2006 and 2013. Transitions between PEA (including bradycardia with poor perfusion), VF/VT, asystole, and ROSC were quantified by applying a multi-state statistical model with competing risks, and by smoothing the Nelson-Aalen estimator of cumulative hazard., Results: Seventy-four episodes of cardiac arrest were included. Median age of patients was 15 years [IQR 11-17], 50% were female and 62% had a respiratory aetiology of arrest. Presenting cardiac arrest rhythms were PEA (60%), VF/VT (24%) and asystole (16%). A temporary surge of PEA was observed between 10 and 15 min due to a doubling of the transition rate from ROSC to PEA (i.e. 're-arrests'). The prevalence of sustained ROSC reached an asymptotic value of 30% at 20 min. Simulation suggests that doubling the transition rate from PEA to ROSC and halving the relapse rate might increase the prevalence of sustained ROSC to 50%., Conclusion: Children and adolescents who received CPR were prone to re-arrest between 10 and 15 min after start of CPR efforts. If the rate of PEA to ROSC transition could be increased and the rate of re-arrests reduced, the overall survival rate may improve., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: To determine the timing and modes of death of children admitted to a pediatric critical care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care center after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)., Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study at a tertiary care PICU of all consecutive patients <18 years old who received ≥1 min of chest compressions, had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for ≥20 min, and were admitted to the PICU after an OHCA. Modes of death were classified as brain death (BD), withdrawal due to neurologic prognosis (W/D-neuro), withdrawal for refractory circulatory failure (W/D-RCF), and re-arrest without ROSC (RA)., Results: 191 consecutive patients were admitted to the PICU from February 2005 to May 2013 after an OHCA. Eighty-six(45%) patients died prior to discharge: BD in 47%(40/86), W/D-neuro in 34%(29/86), W/D-RCF in 10%(9/86), and RA in 9%(8/86). Time to death was longer for patients with W/D-neuro: 4 days [1, 5] and BD 4 days [1, 5](p < 0.01) as opposed to those with W/D-RCF (1 day[1, 2]) and RA(1 day[0.5, 1]). Of patients who underwent W/D-neuro, 9/29(31%) died within 3 days of PICU admission and 20/29(69%) ≥3 days. Of patients who died after W/D-neuro, 12/29(41%) received therapeutic hypothermia, 27/29(93%) underwent EEG monitoring, 21/29(72%) had a brain CT, and 13/29(45%) had a brain MRI. All MRIs showed signs of hypoxic-ischemic injury., Conclusion: Neurologic injury was the most common mode of death post-resuscitation care OHCA after in a tertiary care center PICU. Neurologic prognostication impacts the outcome of a large proportion of patients after OHCA, and further studies are warranted to improve its reliability., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation has initiated a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation science. This is the second annual summary of International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations that includes the most recent cardiopulmonary resuscitation science reviewed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. This summary addresses the role of antiarrhythmic drugs in adults and children and includes the Advanced Life Support Task Force and Pediatric Task Force consensus statements, which summarize the most recent published evidence and an assessment of the quality of the evidence based on Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. The statements include consensus treatment recommendations approved by members of the relevant task forces. Insights into the deliberations of each task force are provided in the Values and Preferences and Task Force Insights sections. Finally, the task force members have listed the top knowledge gaps for further research., (Copyright © 2018 European Resuscitation Council and American Heart Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Separate trials to evaluate therapeutic hypothermia after paediatric cardiac arrest for out-of-hospital and in-hospital settings reported no statistically significant differences in survival with favourable neurobehavioral outcome or safety compared to therapeutic normothermia. However, larger sample sizes might detect smaller clinical effects. Our aim was to pool data from identically conducted trials to approximately double the sample size of the individual trials yielding greater statistical power to compare outcomes., Methods: Combine individual patient data from two clinical trials set in forty-one paediatric intensive care units in USA, Canada and UK. Children aged at least 48 h up to 18 years old, who remained comatose after resuscitation, were randomized within 6 h of return of circulation to hypothermia or normothermia (target 33.0 °C or 36.8 °C). The primary outcome, survival 12 months post-arrest with Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II) score at least 70 (scored from 20 to 160, higher scores reflecting better function, population mean = 100, SD = 15), was evaluated among patients with pre-arrest scores ≥70., Results: 624 patients were randomized. Among 517 with pre-arrest VABS-II scores ≥70, the primary outcome did not significantly differ between hypothermia and normothermia groups (28% [75/271] and 26% [63/246], respectively; relative risk, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 1.42; p = 0.61). Among 602 evaluable patients, the change in VABS-II score from baseline to 12 months did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.20), nor did, proportion of cases with declines no more than 15 points or improvement from baseline [22% (hypothermia) and 21% (normothermia)]. One-year survival did not differ significantly between hypothermia and normothermia groups (44% [138/317] and 38% [113/ 297], respectively; relative risk, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.38; p = 0.15). Incidences of blood-product use, infection, and serious cardiac arrhythmia adverse events, and 28-day mortality, did not differ between groups., Conclusions: Analysis of combined data from two paediatric cardiac arrest targeted temperature management trials including both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cases revealed that hypothermia, as compared with normothermia, did not confer a significant benefit in survival with favourable functional outcome at one year., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Based on laboratory cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) investigations and limited adult data, the American Heart Association Consensus Statement on CPR Quality recommends titrating CPR performance to achieve end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) >20 mmHg., Aims: We prospectively evaluated whether ETCO2 > 20 mmHg during CPR was associated with survival to hospital discharge., Methods: Children ≥37 weeks gestation in Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network intensive care units with chest compressions for ≥1 min and ETCO2 monitoring prior to and during CPR between July 1, 2013 and June 31, 2016 were included. ETCO2 and Utstein-style cardiac arrest data were collected. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust error estimates were used to estimate relative risk of outcomes., Results: Blinded investigators analyzed ETCO2 waveforms from 43 children. During CPR, the median ETCO2 was 23 mmHg [quartiles, 16 and 28 mmHg], median ventilation rate was 29 breaths/min [quartiles, 24 and 35 breaths/min], and median duration of CPR was 5 min [quartiles, 2 and 16 min]. Return of spontaneous circulation occurred after 71% of CPR events and 37% of patients survived to hospital discharge. For children with mean ETCO2 during CPR > 20 mmHg, the adjusted relative risk for survival was 0.92 (0.41, 2.08), p = 0.84. The median mean ETCO2 among children who survived to hospital discharge was 20 mmHg [quartiles; 15, 28 mmHg] versus 23 mmHg [16, 28 mmHg] among non-survivors., Conclusion: Mean ETCO2 > 20 mmHg during pediatric in-hospital CPR was not associated with survival to hospital discharge, and ETCO2 was not different in survivors versus non-survivors., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Providers caring for newly born infants require skills and knowledge to initiate prompt and effective positive pressure ventilation (PPV) if the newborn does not breathe spontaneously after birth. We hypothesized implementation of high frequency/short duration deliberate practice training and post event video-based debriefings would improve process of care and decreases time to effective spontaneous respiration., Methods: Pre- and post-interventional quality study performed at two Norwegian university hospitals. All newborns receiving PPV were prospectively video-recorded, and initial performance data guided the development of educational interventions. A priori primary outcome was changed from process of care using the Neonatal Resuscitation Performance Evaluation (NRPE) score to time to effective spontaneous respiration as the NRPE score could only be obtained from one site due to lack of staff resources., Results: Over 12 months, 297 PPV-Refreshers and 52 performance debriefings were completed with 227 unique providers attending a PPV-Refresher and 93 unique providers completed a debriefing. We compared 102 PPV-events pre- to 160 PPV-events post-bundle implementation. The time to effective spontaneous respiration decreased from median (95% confidence interval) 196 (140-237) to 144 (120-163) s, p = 0.010. The NRPE-score increased significantly from median 77% (75-81) pre- to 89% (86-92) post-implementation, p < 0.001. There were no significant differences in time to heart rate >100 beats/min or number of newborns transferred to intensive care., Conclusion: High frequency/short duration deliberate practice PPV psychomotor training combined with performance-focused team debriefings using video recordings of actual resuscitations may improve time to effective spontaneous breathing and adherence to guidelines during real neonatal resuscitations., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We aimed to describe the differences in workload between team leaders and CPR providers during a simulated pediatric cardiac arrest, to evaluate the impact of a CPR feedback device on provider workload, and to describe the association between provider workload and the quality of CPR., Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial comparing CPR quality in teams with and without use of a real-time visual CPR feedback device [1]. Healthcare providers (team leaders and CPR providers) completed the NASA Task Load Index survey after participating in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario. The effect of provider roles and real-time feedback on workload were compared with independent t-tests., Results: Team leaders reported higher levels of mental demand, temporal demand, performance-related workload and frustration, while CPR providers reported comparatively higher physical workload. CPR providers reported significantly higher average workload (control 58.5 vs. feedback 62.3; p = 0.035) with real-time feedback provided compared to the group without feedback. Providers with high workloads (average score >60) had an increased percentage of time with guideline-compliant CPR depth versus those with low workloads (average score <60) (p = 0.034)., Conclusions: Healthcare providers reported high workloads during a simulated pediatric cardiac arrest. Physical and mental workloads differed based on provider role. CPR providers using a CPR feedback device reported increased average workloads. The quality of CPR improved with higher reported physical workloads., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)