A new algorithm to diagnose during chest compressions: Effect on cardiopulmonary resuscitation delivery

Rhythm analysis methods for shock advice during CPR are evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, these figures do not convey the real impact that using these methods would have on the delivery of CPR. This study evaluates the impact on CPR delivery of a new rhythm analysis method. First, the original method was modified to increase the reliability of a shock diagnosis by the addition of high and low confidence diagnoses and the combination of several diagnoses before deciding a shock. Compared to the current CPR guidelines, the modified rhythm analysis method showed a 94.4% probability of delivering the shock earlier to patients in shockable rhythms and a 94.1% probability of reducing CPR interruptions for rhythm reassessment in nonshockable rhythms. Although the results are promising further testing is needed on complete resuscitation episodes.