UTILIZATION OF A PRESSURE-SENSING MONITOR TO IMPROVE IN-FLIGHT CHEST COMPRESSIONS

University School of Medicine has demonstrated impairment of chest com pression efficacy in the setting of an airborne 80-105 helicopter. Thi s study was undertaken to determine whether in-flight compression effi cacy 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 com pressions on a mannequin that electronically assessed compression dept h 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 th e control group (33.4 +/- 12.1%). This study demonstrated that the dif ficulties of performing effective in-flight chest compressions are lar gely overcome with utilization of a pressure-sensing device providing real-time feedback on compression efficacy. ((C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company)