Is It Possible to Detect Return of Spontaneous Circulation during Chest Compression? Evaluation of a Novel Method: Carotid Artery Compression Ultrasound

<b>Objectives:</b> To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of carotid artery compression using a point-of-care ultrasound probe (POCUS-CAC) in reducing pulse check times and facilitating the detection of the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compared to manual palpation (MP). The secondary aim of the study is to assess the ability of POCUS-CAC to detect ROSC during ongoing chest compressions. <b>Methods:</b> This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary emergency department between January and June 2023. During CPR, POCUS-CAC was performed by placing a linear ultrasound probe transversely on the lateral neck to assess the compressibility of the carotid artery. Complete compression of the artery without any visible pulsation indicated no ROSC, while resistance to compression or partial compression suggested the presence of ROSC. Simultaneously, another clinician performed manual palpation of the femoral artery. The primary outcome assessed in this study was comparing ROSC detection between POCUS-CAC and traditional methods, and the secondary outcome was comparing the time taken to detect ROSC with each method, and the ability to detect ROSC during ongoing chest compressions. <b>Results:</b> The study included 41 cardiac arrest patients and analyzed 496 MP pulse and 1984 POCUS-CAC checks. The mean time to identify a pulse using POCUS-CAC was significantly shorter, at 2.3 (0.5-7.8, SD ± 1.2, 95% CI [2.25, 2.35]) s, compared to 4.7 (2.0-10.5, SD ± 1.8, 95% CI [4.54, 4.86]) s with MP (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Additionally, 52.9% of ROSC cases were detected earlier using POCUS-CAC, even during ongoing chest compressions. The sensitivity of POCUS-CAC was 100% (95% CI [80.5-100%]) and the specificity was 87.5% (95% CI [67.6-97.3%]). The POCUS-CAC method required less than 5 s in 99.996% of cases. <b>Conclusions:</b> POCUS-CAC significantly reduces pulse check times and enhances the early detection of ROSC during CPR, offering a reliable and rapid alternative to traditional manual palpation methods in emergency settings.