AIM OF THE STUDY: Sternal and rib fractures are frequent complications caused by chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to investigate the potential association of CPR-related thoracic and abdominal injuries and compression depth measured with an accelerometer. METHODS: We analysed the autopsy records, CT scans or chest radiographs of 170 adult patients, suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest at the Tampere University Hospital during the period 2009-2011 to investigate possible association of chest compressions and iatrogenic injuries. The quality of manual compressions during CPR was recorded on a Philips, HeartStart MRx Q-CPR™-defibrillator. RESULTS: Patients were 110 males and 60 females. Injuries were found in 36% of male and 23% of female patients. Among male patients CPR-related injuries were associated with deeper mean - and peak compression depths (p<0.05). No such association was observed in women. The frequency of injuries in mean compression depth categories <5, 5-6 and >6 cm, was 28%, 27% and 49% (p=0.06). Of all patients 27% sustained rib fractures, 11% sternal fracture and eight patients had haematomas/ruptures in the myocardium. In addition, we observed one laceration of the stomach without bleeding, one ruptured spleen, one mediastinal haemorrhage and two pneumothoraxes. CONCLUSION: The number of iatrogenic injuries in male patients was associated with chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation increased as the measured compression depth exceeded 6 cm. While there is an increased risk of complications with deeper compressions it is important to realize that the injuries were by and large not fatal.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Sternal and rib fractures are frequent complications caused by chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to investigate the potential association of CPR-related thoracic and abdominal injuries and compression depth measured with an accelerometer. METHODS: We analysed the autopsy records, CT scans or chest radiographs of 170 adult patients, suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest at the Tampere University Hospital during the period 2009-2011 to investigate possible association of chest compressions and iatrogenic injuries. The quality of manual compressions during CPR was recorded on a Philips, HeartStart MRx Q-CPR™-defibrillator. RESULTS:Patients were 110 males and 60 females. Injuries were found in 36% of male and 23% of female patients. Among male patients CPR-related injuries were associated with deeper mean - and peak compression depths (p<0.05). No such association was observed in women. The frequency of injuries in mean compression depth categories <5, 5-6 and >6 cm, was 28%, 27% and 49% (p=0.06). Of all patients 27% sustained rib fractures, 11% sternal fracture and eight patients had haematomas/ruptures in the myocardium. In addition, we observed one laceration of the stomach without bleeding, one ruptured spleen, one mediastinal haemorrhage and two pneumothoraxes. CONCLUSION: The number of iatrogenic injuries in male patients was associated with chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation increased as the measured compression depth exceeded 6 cm. While there is an increased risk of complications with deeper compressions it is important to realize that the injuries were by and large not fatal.
Authors: Chi Keong Ching; Siew Hon Benjamin Leong; Siang Jin Terrance Chua; Swee Han Lim; Kenneth Heng; Sohil Pothiawala; Venkataraman Anantharaman Journal: Singapore Med J Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 1.858
Authors: Ryan W Morgan; Todd J Kilbaugh; Wesley Shoap; George Bratinov; Yuxi Lin; Ting-Chang Hsieh; Vinay M Nadkarni; Robert A Berg; Robert M Sutton Journal: Resuscitation Date: 2016-12-05 Impact factor: 5.262
Authors: Ian K Maconochie; Richard Aickin; Mary Fran Hazinski; Dianne L Atkins; Robert Bingham; Thomaz Bittencourt Couto; Anne-Marie Guerguerian; Vinay M Nadkarni; Kee-Chong Ng; Gabrielle A Nuthall; Gene Y K Ong; Amelia G Reis; Stephen M Schexnayder; Barnaby R Scholefield; Janice A Tijssen; Jerry P Nolan; Peter T Morley; Patrick Van de Voorde; Arno L Zaritsky; Allan R de Caen Journal: Resuscitation Date: 2020-10-21 Impact factor: 5.262