• Tae Hu Kim, Soo Hoon Lee, Dong Hoon Kim, Ryun Kyung Lee, So Yeon Kim, Changwoo Kang, Jin Hee Jeong, Seong Chun Kim, and Sang Bong Lee.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
• Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Dec 1.

ObjectiveThis study was performed to determine a landmark for chest compression depth for adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using chest computed tomography and to evaluate the validity of the landmark.MethodsThe external anteroposterior diameters (EAPDs) of each chest at the suprasternal notch (SN) and the lower half (LH) of the sternum were measured. We analyzed the differences in the EAPDs between the LH and the SN in each EAPD group in the LH of the sternum as follows: less than 20.00, 20.00 to 21.99, 22.00 to 23.99, greater than or equal to 24.00. We compared the differences in the EAPDs between the 2 points with 50 mm and the chest compression depth on simulated one-fourth external chest compressions for each EAPD group on the LH of the sternum.ResultsThe mean difference in the EAPDs between the SN and the LH was 5.16 ± 0.91 mm. The differences in the EAPDs between the SN and the LH of the sternum with 50 mm did not indicate a significant difference. The mean one-fourth EAPD at the LH of the sternum was 5.50 ± 0.53 mm. There was not a significant difference in the residual chest depth on one-fourth simulated chest compression for each EAPD group on the LH of the sternum.ConclusionsThe SN may have value as a functional landmark for chest compression depth in adult CPR. Our findings combined with the simulated one-fourth chest compressions were more consistent with the depth between 50 and 60 mm recommended by the 2015 CPR guidelines.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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