title: On the technique of external cardiac compression.
abstract: ECG, arterial flow and pressure were recorded during external cardiac compression (ECC) in a patient whose heart had ceased beating. The patient was a 68-year-old female who remained comatose for 2 weeks after an emergency laparotomy for perforated diverticulitis of the colon. She developed sepsis, renal failure, and cardiopulmonary failure. During ECC, the pressure on the sternum was maintained for about 0.5 sec (sustained pressure technique), flow and mean arterial pressure were improved by 32 and 20%, respectively, as compared with flow and pressure obtained with a quick and more jerky compression. During spontaneous heart activity with a low blood pressure, a superimposed ECC improved both flow and mean arterial pressure. Calcium chloride and adrenaline injected into the right atrium increased the tone and contractile power of the heart and greatly improved flow and pressure when the heart was subsequently compressed during asystole.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D004837:Epinephrine