Constant Flow oxygen in Cardiac Arrest

[AZCEP]

I saw this on the EMS responder site, and I'm having some difficulty understanding exactly how they are doing this. Maybe some insight could be provided by the learned among us.

Study: Cardiac Resuscitation Can Be Performed with Constant Flow Insufflation of Oxygen

Biotech Week

via NewsEdge Corporation

2006 JUL 19 - (NewsRx.com) -- Constant flow insufflation of oxygen (CFIO) is a simplified alternative to mechanical ventilation (MV) for cardiac resuscitation, with favorable effects regarding oxygenation and fewer complications.

According to recent research published in the journal Intensive Care Medicine, "CFIO through a Boussignac multichannel endotracheal tube has been reported to be an efficient ventilatory method during chest massage for cardiac arrest. Patients resuscitated for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were randomly assigned to standard endotracheal intubation and MV (n=457) or use of CFIO at a flow rate of 151/min (n=487)."

C. Bertrand and colleagues, Henri Mondor Hospital, wrote, "Continuous chest compressions were similar in the two groups. Pulse oximetry level was recorded every 5 min. Outcome of initial resuscitation, hospital admission, complications, and discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed. The randomization scheme was changed during the study, but the in-depth analysis was performed only on the first cohort of 341 patients with CFIO and 355 with MV, because of randomization problems in the second part."

They continued, "No difference in outcome was noted regarding return to spontaneous circulation (CFIO 21%, MV 20%), hospital admission (CFIO 17%, MV 16%), or ICU discharge (CFIO 2.4%, MV 2.3%). The level of detectable pulse saturation and the proportion of patients with saturation above 70% were higher with CFIO. Ten patients with MV but only one with CFIO had rib fractures."

The researchers concluded, "CFIO is a simplified alternative to MV, with favorable effects regarding oxygenation and fewer complications, as observed in this group of patients with desperate prognosis."

Bertrand and colleagues published their study in Intensive Care Medicine (Constant flow insufflation of oxygen as the sole mode of ventilation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Intensive Care Med, 2006;32(6):843-851).

For additional information, contact C. Bertrand, Paris 12 University, Hopital Henri Mondor, Boussignac Study Group, Dept. of Anesthesiology & Emergency Medical Service Creteil, AP, Creteil, France.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Intensive Care Medicine is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Now, does this mean by using a special tube, we secure an airway, hook up the oxygen supply tubing and let fly with compressions? That just seems too simple.