A History and Overview of Telecommunicator Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (T-CPR)

Few events in pre-hospital medicine inspire as much attention and resources as out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), yet the survival rate for such events has remained stagnant and unacceptably low. The first links in the chain of survival are early recognition and early CPR; yet EMS services do not arrive to the scene of a medical call for on average 7 minutes. Emergency dispatchers are generally the first trained individuals involved in medical emergencies; they can provide pre-arrival instructions, specifically telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR), and represent the potential to double the bystander CPR rate and increase return of spontaneous circulation. Yet, according to survey data, fewer than half of all public safety answering points (PSAPs) provide any T-CPR and even fewer provide hands-only CPR instruction.1 This article will provide a brief overview, history and introduction to the evidence supporting the use of T-CPR to improve outcomes in OHCA.

Will We Code for Default ECMO?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become the default treatment for all patients who suffer cardiac arrest. The history of how this came to be suggests the clinical and ethical importance of establishing more humane and appropriate indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other aggressive therapies for patients at the end of life.

[A brief history of resuscitation - the influence of previous experience on modern techniques and methods]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is relatively novel branch of medical science, however first descriptions of mouth-to-mouth ventilation are to be found in the Bible and literature is full of descriptions of different resuscitation methods - from flagellation and ventilation with bellows through hanging the victims upside down and compressing the chest in order to stimulate ventilation to rectal fumigation with tobacco smoke. The modern history of CPR starts with Kouwenhoven et al. who in 1960 published a paper regarding heart massage through chest compressions. Shortly after that in 1961Peter Safar presented a paradigm promoting opening the airway, performing rescue breaths and chest compressions. First CPR guidelines were published in 1966. Since that time guidelines were modified and improved numerously by two leading world expert organizations ERC (European Resuscitation Council) and AHA (American Heart Association) and published in a new version every 5 years. Currently 2010 guidelines should be obliged. In this paper authors made an attempt to present history of development of resuscitation techniques and methods and assess the influence of previous lifesaving methods on nowadays technologies, equipment and guidelines which allow to help those women and men whose life is in danger due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac death--historical perspectives

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected death due to cardiac causes that occurs in a short time period (generally within 1 h of symptom onset) in a person with known or unknown cardiac disease. It is believed to be involved in nearly a quarter of human deaths, with ventricular fibrillation being the most common mechanism. It is estimated that more than 7 million lives per year are lost to SCD worldwide. Historical perspectives of SCD are analyzed with a brief description on how the developments in the management of sudden cardiac arrest evolved over time.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a historical perspective leading up to the end of the 19th century

Social laws and religious beliefs throughout history underscore the leaps and bounds that the science of resuscitation has achieved from ancient times until today. The effort to resuscitate victims goes back to ancient history, where death was considered a special form of sleep or an act of God. Biblical accounts of resuscitation attempts are numerous. Resuscitation in the Middle Ages was forbidden, but later during Renaissance, any prohibition against performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was challenged, which finally led to the Enlightenment, where scholars attempted to scientifically solve the problem of sudden death. It was then that the various components of CPR (ventilation, circulation, electricity, and organization of emergency medical services) began to take shape. The 19th century gave way to hallmarks both in the ventilatory support (intubation innovations and the artificial respirator) and the open-and closed chest circulatory support. Meanwhile, novel defibrillation techniques had been employed and ventricular fibrillation described. The groundbreaking discoveries of the 20th century finally led to the scientific framework of CPR. In 1960, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was eventually combined with chest compression and defibrillation to become CPR as we now know it. This review presents the scientific milestones behind one of medicine's most widely used fields.

Rescuing the drowned: cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the origins of emergency medicine in the eighteenth century

The concept of a medical emergency, i.e., a time when immediate action is required to stabilize and restore the vital functions, is absent in the tradition of ancient medicine, which seeks to cure the sick. The theoretical and conceptual development of a prompt medical assistance definitely owes much to the refinement of instruments and surgical techniques that were develop in the early modern age, allowing the extension of therapeutic action to "healthy" individuals who are suddenly life-threatened due to an accident or to some external events that affect their vital functions. But it is especially in the eighteenth century that the epistemic basis of medical emergency is structured, when the Enlightenment gave rise to the ethical and political imperative of public assistance that required the planning of first aid at multiple levels, and medicine developed the concept of life-saving treatment. In particular, eighteenth century medicine, studying systems to assure immediate relief to the victims of accidents-especially to the drowned-allowed the development of specific and methodological systems of resuscitation and emergency treatment.

[Historical review from beginning of CPR to CPCR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation to cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation)]

This 2010 is a memorial year for CPR, as in 1960 closed chest cardiac massage was first introduced in clinical setting. Jude, Kouwenhoven are the pioneer of this method. However, Prof. Peter Safar was also distinguished pioneer of articial respiration and airway management. Manual chest compression is not efficient to maintain oxygenation and impossible to airway patent. Applying both respiration by mouth-to-mouth breathing and closed chest cardiac massage, it started the new era of CPR. CPR has been expanded to every countries, however, it has not been successful to obtain a good survival rate in out -of-hospital cardiac arrest. BLS is the most important to increase the survival rate. It is the problem how to recover brain function after cardiac arrest then followed with recovery of spontaneous circulation. Brain oriented resuscitation is the target for CPR. Chain of survival is still very useful to treat cardiac arrest. Post cardiac arrest syndrome should be well recognized and hypothermia therapy is introduced as one of the best treatment.

[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation through centuries]

THE ANCIENT TIMES: Many early civilisations left testimonies about ancient times and resuscitation, as well. Some of them did it successfully and some of them did it less successfully; however, all of them wished to help a dying person and to bring him back to life. The first trustworthy note can be found in the Bible--Old Testament as a very realistic description of resuscitation of a child. THE MIDDLE AGES: The medieval scientists, Paracelsus and Vesalius, described first successful resuscitation attempts in the 15th and 16th century. These two men successfully applied ventilation methods by air inflation with blacksmith bellows. THE MODERN ERA: The first defibrillation was recorded in the 18th century in England, which was conducted by one of the volunteer society members. With the development of mechanics and techniques, the first precursors of modern respirators were introduced in the 19th century. The age of modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation began in the middle of 20th century, when Dr Peter Safar brought in the combination of artificial ventilation and chest compressions as the standard for implementing resuscitation. Adrenalin and defibrillation were introduced into the resuscitation techniques by Dr Redding and Dr Kouwenhaven, respectively; thus beginning the advance life support administration, which has been applied, with minor changes, until today.

Reviving the conversation around CPR/DNR

This paper examines the historical rise of both cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order and the wisdom of their continuing status in U.S. hospital practice and policy. The practice of universal presumed consent to CPR and the resulting DNR policy are the products of a particular time and were responses to particular problems. In order to keep the excesses of technology in check, the DNR policies emerged as a response to the in-hospital universal presumed consent to CPR. We live with this historical concretion, which seems to perpetuate a false culture that the patient's wishes must be followed. The authors are critical of the current U.S. climate, where CPR and DNR are viewed as two among a panoply of patient choices, and point to UK practice as an alternative. They conclude that physicians in the United States should radically rethink approaches to CPR and DNR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: from the beginning to the present day

Cardiac arrest represents a dramatic event that can occur suddenly and often without premonitory signs, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and breathing after cardiac output ceases and both coronary and cerebral blood flows stop. Restarting of the blood flow by cardiopulmonary resuscitation potentially re-establishes some cardiac output and organ blood flows. This article summarizes the major events that encompass the history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, beginning with ancient history and evolving into the current American Heart Association's commitment to save hearts.

A history of ethics and law in the intensive care unit

Because they provide potential benefit at great personal and public cost, the intensive care unit (ICU) and the interventions rendered therein have become symbols of both the promise and the limitations of medical technology. At the same time, the ICU has served as an arena in which many of the ethical and legal dilemmas created by that technology have been defined and debated. This article outlines major events in the history of ethics and law in the ICU, covering the evolution of ICUs, ethical principles, informed consent and the law, medical decision-making, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, legal cases involving life support, advance directives, prognostication, and futility and the allocation of medical resources. Advancement of the ethical principle of respect for patient autonomy in ICUs increasingly is in conflict with physicians' concern about their own prerogatives and with the just distribution of medical resources.

[The historical review of cardio pulmonary resuscitation]

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation is the main method to rescue sudden cardiac arrest, which involved the aspects of opening airway, artificial ventilation, cardiac compression, defibrillation and pacing. By reviewing the developmental process of each aspect of the above and analyzing the historical role of academic background, important events and outstanding figures could contribute to conclude the experience and discipline in this historical process so as to grasp the developmental sequence of cardio pulmonary resuscitation and understand deeply and further perfect and develop the cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

The origins of bioethics: advances in resuscitations techniques

During the last years there has been an increasing interest in meta-bioethical issues. This turn in the research focus is regarded as a sign of the maturation of bioethics as a distinct area of an academic inquiry. The role of historic-philosophical reflection is often emphasized. It should be noted that there is a rather common agreement that the future of bioethics lies in the critical reflection on its past, in particular, on the very origins of this discipline. Sharing Caplan's opinion, advances in medicine technologies, especially the introduction of respirators and artificial heart machines, is considered as one of the main issues that started bioethics. Using methods of historical as well as meta-ethical research, this article aims at describing the role of advances in resuscitation techniques in the emergence of bioethics and at exploring how bioethical reflection has been shaped by technological developments. A brief historical analysis permits to say that there is a close bond between the emergence of bioethics and the introduction of sophisticated resuscitation technologies into medical practice. The meta-ethical reflection reveals that advances in resuscitation techniques not only initiated bioethics in the second half of the 20(th) century but influenced its evolution by (i) posing a question of justice in health care, (ii) altering commonly accepted ontological notions of human corporeality, and (iii) reconsidering the very purpose of medicine.

The development of CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is now the standard treatment for someone having a cardiac arrest. It is, however, a procedure that has emerged only relatively recently. For a number of scientific and religious reasons, it was long considered impossible, even blasphemous, to attempt to reverse 'death'. Because of these factors, the area of resuscitation failed to progress until the Enlightenment in the 18th Century. The main elements of resuscitation were then developed over the next 200 years, and eventually brought together to create CPR in the early 1960s. The increased demands that morality was seen to place on the medical profession to combat sudden cardiac death subsequent to this development may have been an important factor in why CPR has come to be used in the widespread manner it currently is.

[History of electric defibrillation]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one of the most effective methods in rescuing those in critical situations. In recent decades, electric cardiac defibrillation has made the biggest advance in the field of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It has been found that the rate of successful resuscitation with electric defibrillation is much higher than by bare-handed or drug resuscitations by which more lives have been saved, has become the most essential and most important means of first aid. The history of the development of electric defibrillation is a successful modality of multidisciplinary cooperation of physicians, biologists, physiologists, and engineers. Although "early defibrillation" has been recognized as an idea of standard therapy and a basic measure of life support by international organizations as American Heart Association, it is far from being perfect and has a long way to go. A review of the history may help to bring the technique of electric defibrillation into perfection, and to save more lives in the future.

History of mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Part 3: the 19th to mid-20th centuries and "rediscovery"

The start of the 19th century saw the enthusiasm of the previous one for mouth-to-mouth ventilation (MMV) dissipated. To inflate the lungs of the asphyxiated, the Royal Humane Society in the United Kingdom had recommended bellows since 1782. Principal determinants for change were aesthetic distaste for mouth-to-mouth contact and the perceived danger of using expired air, although MMV survived in the practice of some midwives. Following the 1826-9 investigations of Jean-Jacques Leroy d'Etiolles then François Magendie, all positive pressure ventilation methods were generally abandoned, after 1829 in France, and 1832 in the UK; but not chest compressions. During the next quarter century, rescuers lost understanding of the primary need for "artificial respiration", apart from researchers such as John Snow and John Erichsen, until Marshall Hall's "Ready Method" heralded the second half-century's various methods of negative pressure ventilation. Some of those methods continued in use until the 1940s. Sporadic anecdotal cases of MMV rescues were documented throughout. In the 20th century, inadequate mechanical inhalators were also tried from 1908, while obstetricians devised indirect methods of expired air ventilation (EAV). Anaesthetists in the 1940s, such as Ralph Waters, Robert Dripps, and the pair, Robert Macintosh and William Mushin, described the usefulness of MMV, and James Elam was "re-discovering" it. Following World War II, "Cold War" concerns stimulated research at the Edgewood Medical Laboratories in Maryland in the United States into the possibilities of MMV, and Elam et al confirmed and expanded on brief experiments at Oxford (United Kingdom) on the efficacy of mouth-to-tube EAV. Studies, 1957-9, by Archer Gordon, Elam and especially Peter Safar resulted in the resolution of previous airway problems, established the primacy of MMV, and incorporated it into an integrated system for basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Ready adoption of MMV in the US was followed by worldwide spread, especially after endorsement from the 1962 international symposium at Stavanger in Norway. However, already there were occasional rumblings of reluctance to perform MMV. In this article, I consider MMV also in the context of other ventilatory modes for resuscitation.

Critical care medicine: landmarks and legends

Critical care medicine was born from the selective pressures of human disease, and with the perseverance and foresight of a select few pioneers, has become an independent field of medicine. This introduction travels back in time to evaluate those visionaries and their landmark contributions. Advancements in caring for the critically ill and organ failure occurred during the wars of the twentieth century. Landmark advances in the management of respiratory paralysis occurred in the polio epidemic of the 1940s. It was during this era that the world's first ICU was developed. Contemporary critical care differs considerably from that which marked its birth. Much of the technology we currently employ is assumed: invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, antisepsis, and antibiotics.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

In the 43 years since it was first described, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has grown from an obscure medical theory to a basic first aid skill taught to adults and is now the near-universal technique used in CPR instruction. This article provides insight into the history of CPR. We explore the phenomenon of sudden cardiac arrest, the historical roots of CPR, current practice data and recommendations, and the society's role in the development of this life-saving technique. We conclude with a review of CPR's economic impact on the healthcare system and the ethical and policy issues surrounding CPR.

History of mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing. Part 2: the 18th century

In Britain, the great boost to performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for the "suddenly apparently dead" came from William Tossach's 1744 documentation of his own successful case, and then from promotion by John Fothergill and other enthusiasts. Some civic authorities on the Continent were exhorting citizens to employ it from as early as the mid-18th century. The first humane society was founded in Amsterdam in 1767 and initially promoted expired air ventilation (EAV) by the mouth-to-mouth method. Other humane societies were soon established throughout Europe, especially in maritime cities with frequent drownings. The founding of London's humane society in 1774, initially known as "The Institute," was followed by earnest efforts to promote mouth-to-mouth EAV in England, and soon after in Scotland, but not until the 1780s in North America. Disenchantment with the mouth-to-mouth method as less desirable (for various reasons) led to decline in its general use. In 1782, what later became The Royal Humane Society in London changed its expressed preference for artificial ventilation by mouth-to-mouth to manual artificial ventilation using inflating bellows, although mouth-to-mouth was a method of resuscitation which could be attempted by any rescuer. The need to apply artificial ventilation immediately was not really recognised before John Hunter's recommendation to London's Humane Society in 1776. Charles Kite spelt out clearly the principles of resuscitation in 1787-8, though he gave some priority to warming. It seems that only in the latter part of the 18th century was the importance of airway obstruction recognised, largely due to Edmund Goodwyn.

[Physiological aspects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults]

This article reviews the physiology of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), monitoring and new devices for generating blood flow during CPR. Two controversial mechanisms of blood flow during chest compressions are described: the thoracic pump mechanism and cardiac pump mechanism. Also, new physiological aspects of blood flow, physiology of ventilation and gas transport during CPR are overviewed. A variety of alternative techniques and devices are now explored in order to improve perfusion pressures and/or blood flow during CPR, including active compression decompression CPR, inspiratory impedance threshold valve, phased chest and abdominal compression-decompression CPR and others. Initial methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation monitoring are direct observations of pulse and respiration. Electrocardiogram remains the most essential tool for diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac arrest. Monitoring of diastolic blood pressure, myocardial perfusion pressure and end-tidal CO2 are also useful. Other types of monitoring during cardiac arrests can provide information about effectiveness of CPR.

Open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation: past, present and future

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests account for approximately 1000 sudden cardiac deaths per day in the United States. Since its introduction in 1960 closed-chest cardiac massage (CCCM) often takes place as an attempt at resuscitation, although its survival rates are low. Other resuscitation techniques are available to physicians such as open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OCCPR). OCCPR has been shown by several scientists to be hemodynamically superior to CCCM as it increases arterial pressures, cardiac output, coronary perfusion pressures, return of spontaneous circulation and cerebral blood flow. Improved neurological and cardiovascular outcome and an increase in survival rate compared to CCCM have been described. Timing is one of the key variables in determining patient outcome when performing OCCPR. The American Heart Association in association with the International Liaison Committee (ILCOR) has specific indications for the use of OCCPR. Some investigators recommend starting OCCPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on arrival at the scene instead of CCCM. Surprisingly, the incidence of infectious complications after thoracotomy in an unprepared chest is low. The vast majority of the patients' families accept OCCPR as a therapeutic choice for cardiac arrests and it has been showed to be economically viable. This paper reviews some of the basic and advanced concepts of this evolving technique.