
- By: Declan Gibney
- August 7, 2024
Depth and rate of chest compressions impact survival
A recent review of research undertaken by emergency medicine physicians at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center highlighted the importance of depth and rate of chest compressions in survival of cardiac arrest.
The research indicated that chest compressions deeper than 5.5cm actually resulted in decreased survival, possibly due to the trauma caused to internal organs. This is in line with the current UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines of between 5-6cm (2-2.5 inches), but could cause some ambiguity with other guidelines such as the American Heart Association, which doesn’t have an upper limit on chest compression depth.
The group, led by Dr Ahamed Idris, Director of the Dallas-Fort Worth Center for Resuscitation Research, also found that the rate of chest compressions was equally as important and the optimate rate was between 100-120 compressions per minute.
The research found that around half of responders deliver chest compressions that are too fast, one third of which are above 120 compressions per minute and a staggering 20% were over 140 compressions per minute.
Source: http://www.sca-aware.org/print/sca-news/depth-and-rate-of-chest-compressions-during-cpr-impact-survival-in-cardiac-arrest