Breath of Life: how Tidal Volume transforms CPR survival

Breath of Life: how Tidal Volume transforms CPR survival

For the last 20 years, the focus has been on the ‘cardio’ part of CPR, primarily chest compressions. While this is of critical importance, recent studies have shown that the quality of ventilation has a major impact on survival rates and neurological outcomes. In a study published in 2023 (1), Idris et al. demonstrated in approximately 2000 patients that adequate ventilation through tidal volume has the potential to triple survival rates and quadruple the number of patients discharged from hospitals with good neurological outcomes.

Small Bags, Big Risks

Small Bags, Big Risks

While reducing manual ventilation bag size seems to offer a way of reducing the risk of hyperventilation, this move appears to have a negative impact on patient outcomes during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In a study from Snyder et al (1),  1994 adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests treated by the Seattle Fire Department were analysed, revealing alarming consequences of this practice: it resulted in hypoventilation, which significantly reduced the chances of achieving a Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) in this patient group.