Simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A new method ofcardiopulmonary resuscitation

No existing device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is designed to e xploit both the 'cardiac pump' and the 'thoracic pump' effect simultaneousl y. The purpose of this study was to measure the haemodynamic effect of a ne w simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (SST-CPR) devic e that could compress the sternum and constrict the thoracic cavity simulta neously in a canine cardiac arrest model. After 4 min of ventricular fibril lation, 24 mongrel dogs were randomized to receive standard CPR (n = 12) or SST-CPR (n = 12). SST-CPR generated a new pattern of the aortic pressure c urve presumed to be the result of both sternal compression and thoracic con striction. SST-CPR resulted in significantly higher mean arterial pressure than standard CPR (68.9 +/- 16.1 vs. 30.5 +/- 10.0 mmHg, P < 0.01). SST-CPR generated higher coronary perfusion pressure than standard CPR (47.0 +/- 1 1.4 vs. 17.3 +/- 8.9 mmHg, P < 0.01). End tidal CO2 tension was also higher during SST-CPR than standard CPR (11.6 +/- 6.1 vs. 2.17 +/- 3.3 mmHg, P < 0.01). In this preliminary animal model study, simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation generated better haemodynamic effects than st andard, closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.