Phased chest and abdominal compression-decompression. A new option for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
BACKGROUND
We describe a new manual method of phased chest and abdominal compression-decompression with a Lifestick resuscitator for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).


RESULTS
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in 20 domestic pigs. After either 5 or 7 minutes of untreated VF, either phased chest and abdominal compression-decompression (Lifestick resuscitator) or precordial compression was initiated. Defibrillation was attempted at 2 minutes after the start of CPR. For the animals in which VF was untreated for 7 minutes, epinephrine was administered in doses of 20 micrograms/kg at 2 minutes after start of CPR. The coronary perfusion pressure generated by the Lifestick resuscitator was more than twofold greater (P < .01) than that generated by conventional precordial compression. Of 5 control animals, none were resuscitated after 5 minutes of VF. However, each of 5 animals treated with the Lifestick resuscitator was resuscitated (P < .01) and survived after 48 hours (P < .01). When untreated VF was prolonged to 7 minutes and epinephrine was administered, only 2 of the 5 control animals were resuscitated, and none of them survived for more than 4 hours. However, each of the Lifestick-treated animals was resuscitated and survived for more than 48 hours (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Phased chest and abdominal compression-decompression substantially increased hemodynamic efficacy of CPR and outcome in terms of successful resuscitation, 48-hour survival, and cerebral recovery.
Tang
W
W
Institute of Critical Care Medicine, Palm Springs, Calif 92262-5309, USA.
Weil
M H
MH
Schock
R B
RB
Sato
Y
Y
Lucas
J
J
Sun
S
S
Bisera
J
J
D000005:Abdomen; D000818:Animals; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013552:Swine; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D004837:Epinephrine