Use of an inspiratory impedance threshold valve during chest compressions without assisted ventilation may result in hypoxaemia

SummaryIntroductionAlthough the concept of intermittent airway occlusion with the inspiratory impedance threshold valve (ITV) is a well-recognised strategy for improving efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), little is known about possible pulmonary side effects.MethodsAfter a baseline chest CT-scan, 24 pigs with beating hearts undergoing apnoeic oxygenation received an injection of a contrast medium and were then assigned randomly to either active compression–decompression CPR with ITV (ACD ITV CPR), ACD CPR alone, or standard-CPR with ITV (standard-ITV CPR), or standard-CPR alone. After a maximum of 5 min of chest compressions or if oxygen saturation dropped below 70%, the experiment was stopped, haemodynamic variables and blood gas values were measured, and another CT-scan was performed; all animals underwent a 30 min recovery-period and a third subsequent CT-scan.ResultsAt baseline arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oxymetry was 99% in all four groups; in both the ACD ITV CPR and the standard-ITV CPR groups, arterial oxygen saturation dropped below 70% within 126 ± 9 s, whereas chest compressions in all ACD CPR and standard-CPR pigs were performed over 5 min (P < 0.001). Before stopping chest compressions arterial oxygen pressure decreased in the ACD ITV CPR group from 426 ± 96 to 42 ± 8 mmHg while it decreased in the ACD CPR group only from 415 ± 116 to 197 ± 127 mmHg (P < 0.001 between groups); in the standard-ITV CPR group arterial oxygen partial pressure decreased from 427 ± 109 to 34 ± 5 mmHg while oxygen partial pressure decreased only from 467 ± 44 to 144 ± 98 mmHg in the standard-CPR group (P < 0.004 between groups). After the second CT scan arterial oxygen partial pressure decreased further to 19 ± 2 mmHg in the ACD ITV CPR versus 210 ± 41 mmHg in the ACD CPR group; to 20 ± 2 mmHg in the standard-ITV CPR versus 148 ± 33 mmHg in the standard-CPR group. Lung-density values (Hounsfield units) were significantly higher in the ACD ITV CPR versus ACD CPR group (−134 ± 54 versus −330 ± 77) and standard-ITV CPR versus standard-CPR group (−98 ± 50 versus −387 ± 42). After a 30 min recovery-period, there were no significant differences in arterial oxygen partial pressure (ACD ITV CPR 275 ± 110 mmHg versus ACD CPR 379 ± 111 mmHg and standard-ITV CPR 265 ± 138 mmHg versus standard CPR 367 ± 55 mmHg). Furthermore, there were no differences in lung density values between groups after 30 min of recovery.ConclusionIn this animal model with a beating heart, intermittent airway obstruction through an ITV combined with apnoeic oxygenation and without active ventilation resulted in hypoxaemia due to transiently impaired lung function.