title: Utilization of a pressure-sensing monitor to improve in-flight chest compressions.
abstract: Previous research at the Division of Air Medical Services at East Carolina University School of Medicine has demonstrated impairment of chest compression efficacy in the setting of an airborne BO-105 helicopter. This study was undertaken to determine whether in-flight compression efficacy could be improved with utilization of a pressure-sensing monitor providing real-time feedback during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Ten flight nurses each performed two minutes of in-flight chest compressions on a mannequin that electronically assessed compression depth and hand placement. The session was then repeated using the pressure-sensing device. The mean proportion of correct compressions (95.7 +/- 3.2%) achieved with utilization of the pressure-sensing monitor was significantly higher (P < .01) than the corresponding proportion for the control group (33.4 +/- 12.1%). This study demonstrated that the difficulties of performing effective in-flight chest compressions are largely overcome with utilization of a pressure-sensing device providing real-time feedback on compression efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858-4354.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brinkley
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011312:Pressure; D014187:Transportation of Patients