Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes with "pit crew" resuscitation and scripted initiation of mechanical CPR.

Objective: To compare OHCA outcomes in patients managed with mechanical versus manual CPR in an EMS system with a "pit crew" approach to resuscitation and a scripted sequence for the initiation of mechanical CPR.

Methods: Through a year-long quality improvement effort we standardized the initial resuscitative efforts for OHCA, prioritizing a "pit crew" approach to high quality manual CPR, early defibrillation and basic airway management ahead of a scripted sequence for initiating mechanical CPR. We then analyzed outcomes for adult, non-traumatic OHCA attended in the following year (2016).