Updated CPR guidance in accordance with new variants of Covid-19 amid evolving pandemic: AHA

USA: The American Heart Association's (AHA) recent update on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 now requires health care personnel to put on complete personal protective equipment (PPE) before initiating CPR on any patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This is a significant departure from the last edition of this guideline, which stated that physicians should not postpone chest compressions to put on PPE or cover these patients' faces.

The alteration was made in response to the advent of the Omicron version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is more highly infectious. In the event that first responders won't be wearing adequate PPE, they should do so quickly and commence CPR on a patient who is having cardiac arrest due to COVID-19, whether proven or suspected.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] and the World Health Organization [WHO] both recently made recommendations, which are reflected in this revised guideline. In view of the substantial decline in cardiac arrest survival rates amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the updated recommendation gives additional insight into PPE usage during probable aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and underscores the necessity for resuscitation best practices.

The following are the highlights of the 2022 Interim Guidance on CPR in Patients With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19:

1. When performing AGPs such as defibrillation, bag-mask ventilation, chest compressions, positive-pressure ventilation, intubation, or in a setting where such procedures are routinely performed, all healthcare providers should wear a respirator along with other PPE ( gloves, gown, and eye protection).

2. Quick CPR, including chest compressions as soon as it is safe to do so, is critical for cardiac arrest survival. Patients with COVID-19, whether confirmed or suspected, should get the greatest resuscitative care available.

3. Regardless of the possibility of experiencing resuscitation situations, all healthcare personnel should take adequate measures and have reached PPE in all clinical settings. The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for the safety of healthcare workers doing resuscitations.

In conclusion, according to the American Heart Association, healthcare organizations should continue to secure appropriate PPE as it becomes available, ensure training regarding appropriate application and use of PPE, reinforce effective PPE use, and generate systems so that health care providers have quick access to proper PPE when emergency care is required.

Reference:

2022 Interim Guidance to Healthcare Providers for Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Adults, Children, and Neonates with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. News release. American Heart Association: January 24, 2022. Accessed January 31, 2022.