Dispatcher-Assisted Bystander CPR in Children Is Associated with Improved Neurological Outcomes

Dispatcher-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used for adults with out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest; however data on its effectiveness in children are scarce. Investigators analyzed data from a national Utstein-style Japanese registry for 5009 children (age <18 years) with out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2010. Children were divided into three groups: no bystander CPR (2287); bystander CPR with dispatcher assistance (2019); and bystander CPR without dispatcher assistance (703).

Dispatcher CPR instruction (offered in 54% of cases) significantly increased the rate of bystander CPR (adjusted odds ratio, 7.5). Bystander CPR, both with and without dispatcher assistance, was associated with better 1-month neurologic…