Miniaturized mechanical chest compressor: a new option for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
OBJECTIVE
After cardiac arrest, uninterrupted chest compressions with restoration of myocardial blood flow facilitates restoration of spontaneous circulation. We recognized that this may best be accomplished with a mechanical device and especially so during transport. We therefore sought to develop a lightweight, portable chest compressor which may be carried on the belt or attached to the oxygen tank typically carried on the back of the first response rescuer. A miniaturized pneumatic chest compressor (MCC) weighing less than 2 kg was developed and compared with a currently marketed "Michigan Thumper", which weighed 19 kg. We hypothesized that the 2 kg, low profile, portable device will be as effective as the standard pneumatic Thumper for restoring circulation during CPR.


METHODS
Ventricular fibrillation was electrically induced in 10 domestic male pigs weighing 39+/-2 kg, and untreated for 5 min. Animals were then randomized to receive chest compressions with either the MCC or the Thumper. After 5 min of mechanical chest compression, defibrillation was attempted with a 150 J biphasic shock. Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) and end tidal PCO(2) (EtPCO(2)) were measured by conventional techniques together with right carotid artery blood flow (CBF).


RESULTS
Four of five animals compressed with the Thumper and each animal compressed with the MCC were successfully resuscitated. No significant differences in CPP, EtPCO(2), CBF and post-resuscitation myocardial function were observed between groups. Resuscitated animals survived for more than 72 h without neurological impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The low profile, 2 kg miniaturized chest compressor is as effective as the conventional Thumper in an experimental model of CPR.
Ristagno
Giuseppe
G
Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States.
Castillo
Carlos
C
Tang
Wanchun
W
Sun
Shijie
S
Bisera
Joe
J
Weil
Max Harry
MH
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004867:Equipment Design; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008904:Miniaturization; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013552:Swine; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy