ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chest compressions depth and complete chest recoil are both important for high-quality Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). It has been demonstrated that anthropometric variables affect chest compression depth, but there are no data about they could influence chest recoil. The aim of this study was to verify whether physical attributes influences chest recoil in lay rescuers. METHODS: We evaluated 1 minute of compression-only CPR performed by 333 laypersons immediately after a Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation (BLS/AED) course. The primary endpoint was to verify whether anthropometric variables influence the achievement a complete chest recoil. Secondary endpoint was to verify the influence of anthropometric variables on chest compression depth. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between weight and percentage of compressions with correct release (p≤0.001) and this association was found also for height, BMI and sex. People who are heavier, who are taller, who have a greater BMI and who are male are less likely to achieve a complete chest recoil. Regarding chest compressions depth, we confirm that the more a person weighs, the more likely the correct depth of chest compressions will be reached. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric variables affect not only chest compression depth, but also complete chest recoil. CPR instructors should tailor their attention during training on different aspect of chest compression depending on the physical characteristics of the attendee.
Subject(s)
Body Weight , Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/education , Heart Massage/methods , Pressure , Adult , Female , Heart Arrest/therapy , Humans , Italy , Male , Manikins , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depend on early and high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Our aim is to verify whether the use of feedback devices during laypersons' CPR training improves chest compression quality. METHODS: Laypersons totalling 450 participating in Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation (BLS/AED) courses were randomly divided into three groups: group No Feedback (NF) attended a course without any feedback, group Short Feedback (SF) a course with 1-minute training with real-time visual feedback, and group Long Feedback (LF) a course with 10-minute training with real-time visual feedback. At the end of each course, we recorded 1 minute of compression-only CPR. The primary end point was the difference in the percentage of compressions performed with correct depth. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the percentage of compressions with correct depth in the groups receiving feedback compared to the other (NF v. LF, p=0.022; NF v. SF, p=0.005). This improvement was also present in the percentage of compressions with a complete chest recoil (71.7% in NF, 86.6% in SF, and 88.8% in LF; p<0.001), compressions with the correct hand position (93.2% in NF, 98.2% in SF, and 99.3% in LF; p<0.001), and in the Total CPR Score (79.4% in NF, 90.2% in SF, and 92.5% in LF; p<0.001). There were no significant differences for all of the parameters between group SF and group LF. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time visual feedback improves laypersons' CPR quality, and we suggest its use in every BLS/AED course for laypersons because it can help achieve the goals emphasized by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation recommendations.