Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 2, 2025
Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
The Effect of a Plastic Barrier Drape on Resuscitation Performance and Provider Contamination: A Randomized
L Caulette Young1, Jennifer Lau, Joshua Buan
1From the CHLA Las Madrinas Simulation Center (L.C.Y., O.D., T.H., A.R., M.C., T.P.C.), Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine (J.L., A.R., E.A.B., T.P.C.), Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Clinical Services, Respiratory Care (J.B., L.L., E.D.), Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Division of Emergency Medicine & Transport (C.L.), Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Clinical Services, Division of Nurse Professional Development (M.C.), Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles; LC Young Nursing Consultants (L.C.Y.), Anaheim; Respiratory Care, Adventist Health Portland (L.L.), Colton; Keck School of Medicine (J.L., C.L., A.R., E.A.B., T.P.C.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; and Johns Hopkins Simulation Center (O.D.), Baltimore, MD.
Background:
Patient barriers to protect health care workers from COVID-19 exposure have been studied for airway management. Few are tested for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We sought to determine whether a plastic drape barrier affects resuscitation performance and contamination risks for a simulated cardiopulmonary arrest scenario.
Methods:
This pilot trial randomized in-hospital resuscitation teams of 4 to 6 participants to a plastic drape or without a drape in an in situ cardiopulmonary arrest simulation. The mannequin's airway emanated simulated virus particles (GloGerm, Moab, UT), detectable through UV light. Primary outcomes included airway management and CPR quality measures. Secondary outcomes included visible contamination on personal protective equipment (PPE). We used the Non-Technical Skills (NO-TECHS) instrument to measure perceived team performance and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) to measure individual workload. Outcome variables were analyzed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with participant number as a covariate.
Results:
Seven teams were allocated to the intervention (plastic drape) group and 7 to the control. Intubation and ventilation performance (η 2 = 0.09, P > 0.3) and chest compression quality (η 2 = 0.03-0.19, P > 0.14) were not affected by the plastic drape. However, mean contaminated PPE per person decreased with the drape (2.8 ± 0.3 vs. 3.7 ± 0.3, partial η 2 = 0.29, P = 0.05). No differences in perceived workload nor team performance were noted ( P > 0.09).
Conclusions:
In this pilot study, the use of a plastic drape barrier seems not to affect resuscitation performance on simulated cardiopulmonary arrest but decreases health care worker contamination risk. Further implementation trials could characterize the true risk reduction and any effect on resuscitation outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:10PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing
01:25Tracheostomy Care II: Procedure
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask...
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:22PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning
01:11Blinding