2024 RECOVER Guidelines: Basic Life Support. Evidence and knowledge gap analysis with treatment recommendations for small animal CPR

• Published in: Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2000) Vol. 34; no. S1; pp. 16 - 43
• Main Authors: Hopper, Kate, Epstein, Steven E., Burkitt‐Creedon, Jamie M., Fletcher, Daniel J., Boller, Manuel, Fausak, Erik D., Mears, Kim, Crews, Molly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-2024
• Subjects: Animals; canine; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - methods; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - standards; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - veterinary; Cat Diseases - therapy; Cats; clinical trials; consensus guidelines; critical care; Dog Diseases - therapy; Dogs; Evidence-Based Medicine - standards; evidence‐based medicine; feline; Heart Arrest - therapy; Heart Arrest - veterinary; Veterinary Medicine - methods; Veterinary Medicine - standards; evidence‐based medicine; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; feline; consensus guidelines; critical care; canine; clinical trials
• ISSN: 1479-3261; 1476-4431; 1476-4431
• DOI: 10.1111/vec.13387

Objective
To systematically review evidence and devise treatment recommendations for basic life support (BLS) in dogs and cats and to identify critical knowledge gaps.
Design
Standardized, systematic evaluation of literature pertinent to BLS following Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Prioritized questions were each reviewed by 2 Evidence Evaluators, and findings were reconciled by BLS Domain Chairs and Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) Co‐Chairs to arrive at treatment recommendations commensurate to quality of evidence, risk to benefit relationship, and clinical feasibility. This process was implemented using an Evidence Profile Worksheet for each question that included an introduction, consensus on science, treatment recommendations, justification for these recommendations, and important knowledge gaps. A draft of these worksheets was distributed to veterinary professionals for comment for 4 weeks prior to finalization.
Setting
Transdisciplinary, international collaboration in university, specialty, and emergency practice.
Results
Twenty questions regarding animal position, chest compression point and technique, ventilation strategies, as well as the duration of CPR cycles and chest compression pauses were examined, and 32 treatment recommendations were formulated. Out of these, 25 addressed chest compressions and 7 informed ventilation during CPR. The recommendations were founded predominantly on very low quality of evidence and expert opinion. These new treatment recommendations continue to emphasize the critical importance of high‐quality, uninterrupted chest compressions, with a modification suggested for the chest compression technique in wide‐chested dogs. When intubation is not possible, bag–mask ventilation using a tight‐fitting facemask with oxygen supplementation is recommended rather than mouth‐to‐nose ventilation.
Conclusions
These updated RECOVER BLS treatment recommendations emphasize continuous chest compressions, conformation‐specific chest compression techniques, and ventilation for all animals. Very low quality of evidence due to absence of clinical data in dogs and cats consistently compromised the certainty of recommendations, emphasizing the need for more veterinary research in this area.