Constant flow insufflation of oxygen as the sole mode of ventilation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Constant flow insufflation of oxygen (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 mechanical ventilation (MV; n =457) or use of CFIO at a flow rate of 15 l/min (n=487). Continuous chest compressions were similar in the two groups. Pulse oximetry level was recorded every 5[Symbol: see text]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. 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. 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.