• Resuscitation · Apr 2015

    Randomized Controlled Trial

    The capability of professional- and lay-rescuers to estimate the chest compression-depth target: A short, randomized experiment.

    • Raphael van Tulder, Roberta Laggner, Calvin Kienbacher, Bernhard Schmid, Andreas Zajicek, Jochen Haidvogel, Dieter Sebald, Anton N Laggner, Harald Herkner, Fritz Sterz, and Philip Eisenburger.
    • Municipal Ambulance Service Vienna, MA 70, Berufsrettung der Stadt Wien, Austria; Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
    • Resuscitation. 2015 Apr 1;89:137-41.

    BackgroundIn CPR, sufficient compression depth is essential. The American Heart Association ("at least 5cm", AHA-R) and the European Resuscitation Council ("at least 5cm, but not to exceed 6cm", ERC-R) recommendations differ, and both are hardly achieved. This study aims to investigate the effects of differing target depth instructions on compression depth performances of professional and lay-rescuers.Methods110 professional-rescuers and 110 lay-rescuers were randomized (1:1, 4 groups) to estimate the AHA-R or ERC-R on a paper sheet (given horizontal axis) using a pencil and to perform chest compressions according to AHA-R or ERC-R on a manikin. Distance estimation and compression depth were the outcome variables.ResultsProfessional-rescuers estimated the distance according to AHA-R in 19/55 (34.5%) and to ERC-R in 20/55 (36.4%) cases (p=0.84). Professional-rescuers achieved correct compression depth according to AHA-R in 39/55 (70.9%) and to ERC-R in 36/55 (65.4%) cases (p=0.97). Lay-rescuers estimated the distance correctly according to AHA-R in 18/55 (32.7%) and to ERC-R in 20/55 (36.4%) cases (p=0.59). Lay-rescuers yielded correct compression depth according to AHA-R in 39/55 (70.9%) and to ERC-R in 26/55 (47.3%) cases (p=0.02).ConclusionProfessional and lay-rescuers have severe difficulties in correctly estimating distance on a sheet of paper. Professional-rescuers are able to yield AHA-R and ERC-R targets likewise. In lay-rescuers AHA-R was associated with significantly higher success rates. The inability to estimate distance could explain the failure to appropriately perform chest compressions. For teaching lay-rescuers, the AHA-R with no upper limit of compression depth might be preferable.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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