The Role of Supplemental Oxygen for Rescuers Performing External Cardiac Compressions: A Double-Blinded Randomized Crossover Trial

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of supplemental low-flow oxygen on emergency clinicians in improving their quality and length of performance of external chest compressions (ECCs) on a resuscitation manikin. Methods: This was a double-blinded randomized crossover trial. Participants were emergency medicine doctors, nurses, or paramedics working at large emergency departments or ambulance services in Victoria, Australia. The intervention was oxygen and air via nasal cannula during external cardiac compressions. The primary outcome measure was ‘time to inadequate CPR’. Secondary outcome measures included compression rate and compression depth and global rating on a 10-point ordinal scale reporting their ‘comfort’ and ‘convenience’ ratings. Results: There was no statistical or clinical difference between the three study arms with respect to time to inadequate CPR or compression rates per minute. There was a statistically significant difference in the median depth of compression between the control (51.5 mm; IQR 43–58) and air study arms (48.0 mm; IQR 40–55; p = 0.015). Conclusions: Administration of supplemental oxygen (or air) to clinicians performing ECC on a manikin does not improve their performance when measured against internationally accepted guidelines. Supplemental oxygen or air to rescuers performing ECC was not supported.