Friday January 6, 2006
Regarding CPR

CPR is probably one of the most ancient procedure (800 BC) recorded in modern history. 2005 CPR guidelines from American Heart Association suggests:

1. 100 compressions per minute.

2. Compression depth of 1 to 2 inches.

3. Allow the chest to recoil completely after each compression (target equal compression and relaxation times)

4. Minimize interruptions in chest compressions. No-flow Fraction* (no-flow fraction of .17)

5. Compression-ventilation ratio of 30:2 (two rescue breaths every 30 chest compressions). Do not deliver more volume or use more force than is needed to produce visible chest rise. Once intubated: ventilate at a rate of 8 to 10 breaths per minute without attempting to synchronize breaths between compressions.

*NFF= No-flow Fraction was defined as the no-flow time (time periods of cardiac arrest without compressions) divided by total cardiac arrest time.

Unfortunately study shows we have not mastered our most ancient procedure yet.3

References:

Click to get articles/abstract
1. History of CPR - Fascinating insight into early attempts to resuscitate people - ukdivers.net
2. 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care - Circulation. 2005;112:IV-19 – IV-34
3. Quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation During In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - available free with registration - JAMA - Vol. 293 No. 3, January 19, 2005