Acute cardiac care & resuscitationCohort study
The association of mechanical versus manual chest compressions with neurological outcomes at hospital discharge among out-of-hospital cardiac arrests treated with intra-arrest transport
- Registry study using the British Columbia Cardiac Arrest Registry
- adjusted logistic regression model
Authors' conclusion
Among cases treated with IAT, we did not detect an association between MCC, compared to manual chest compressions, and favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge.
Study context
- Population
- Adult non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases (January 2019 - June 2025) transported to hospital with ongoing chest compressions (intra-arrest transport, intra-arrest transport (IAT))cases treated with IAT · of whom received mechanical chest compression (MCC) 243 (12%) · of whom received manual chest compressions 1,724 (84%)
- Participants
- 1,967 participants
- Exposure
- MCC versus manual chest compressions
- MCCn = 243
- manual chest compressionsn = 1,724reference
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ROSC at hospital arrival · hospital arrival
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Survival to hospital discharge
| Outcome | MCC | manual chest compressions | AOR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2) · hospital discharge · no association detected · adjusted logistic regression | 6.6% | 7.1% | 0.93 (0.51–1.69) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Baseline characteristics
- Patient and cardiac arrest characteristics between groups were similar, including presence of bystander CPR and any period of on-scene return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
Original publication
The association of mechanical versus manual chest compressions with neurological outcomes at hospital discharge among out-of-hospital cardiac arrests treated with intra-arrest transport. Resuscitation. Published 19 February 2026. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2026.111020
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it