Decline in Adequate Chest Compressions Is Similar in Children and Adults

In a simulation study, percent adequate chest compressions performed by in-hospital providers fell below 70% within 120 seconds in child and adult manikins.

The American Heart Association defines effective chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as >100 compressions per minute at a depth >38 mm. In a prospective randomized crossover study, investigators compared quality of compressions and the work required to perform them on a 5-year old manikin and an adult manikin. Forty-five in-hospital healthcare providers performed single-rescuer continuous compressions for up to 10 minutes on both the child and adult manikins. A HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator was used to quantify compression rate and compression depth at 30-second intervals.

Mean chest compression rate remained above 100 per minute for both manikins. Mean compression depth decreased over the 10-minute period for…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)