• Cyril Sahyoun, Christina Siliciano, and David Kessler.
• From the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Geneva, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2020 Dec 1; 36 (12): 582-585.

BackgroundCapnography and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) feedback devices have been shown to improve resuscitation outcomes, with the American Heart Association recommending their use during advanced life support (ALS). Little is known about the availability of these devices, their protocoled use, and the attitudes toward them in the prehospital setting.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to assess the availability of capnography and CPR feedback devices among prehospital ALS agencies in New York State (NYS), to describe the protocoled use of these devices, and to evaluate the attitudes of providers toward the use of these devices.MethodsPrehospital agencies that provide ALS services in NYS were identified using an online registry. Managers in these agencies were contacted by electronic mail and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their agency's experience with capnography and CPR feedback devices. The questionnaire included questions on the availability of capnography and CPR feedback devices, the existence of clinical protocols for using capnography, and provider opinion on the utility of capnography and CPR feedback devices for improving pediatric resuscitation.ResultsOf 710 ALS agencies, 238 (33.5%) completed the survey. Ninety-five percent and 24% of agencies reported having capnography and CPR feedback devices available aboard ambulances, respectively. Ninety-seven percent of agencies reported having capnography clinical protocols for endotracheal intubation, 63% for return of spontaneous circulation, and 54% for guiding CPR. Forty-seven percent agreed that capnography improves outcomes in the resuscitation of pediatric patients, whereas 51% of providers were neutral and 2% disagreed.ConclusionsCapnography is available in most NYS ALS agencies surveyed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation feedback devices are less common. Protocols for the use of capnography mainly focused on endotracheal intubation and less for the recognition of return of spontaneous circulation and for guiding CPR. Half of the providers surveyed were neutral on whether capnography improves outcomes in the resuscitation of pediatric patients.

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