Comparison of the efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed at emergency department on stretcher or floor on a manikin

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to demonstrate on a manikin the effects of performing compression in cardiac arrest cases on the floor or stretcher on performer tiredness and basic life support.

Materials and methods: The study included 40 healthcare personnel comprising physicians, paramedics and emergency medicine technicians employed at our hospital’s emergency medicine clinic and competent in current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) application. The performers were asked to perform compression as advised in American Heart Association guidelines for five turns of two minutes each on an adult CPR application manikin placed on a stretcher with a trauma board underneath and with compression hardness setting adjusted to high level. The performers were allowed to rest between each turn for two minutes. Data related to the number and depth of compressions were obtained from computer environment separately for each turn of two minutes. At least one day after the application, the same performers were asked to perform compression for five turns of two minutes each on the adult CPR application manikin placed on the floor on a flat surface with a trauma board underneath and with compression hardness setting adjusted to high level. Data related to the application were obtained while the application was performed by means of the used manikin’s embedded computer program.

Results: Mean difference between the number of compression values for five turns of compressions performed on stretcher or floor was 0.9 compression/minute without a statistically significant difference (p=0.602). Difference between depth of compression values for compressions performed on stretcher or floor was 0.14 mm without a statistically significant difference (p=0.898). A statistically significant difference was observed between compressions performed on stretcher or floor in terms of mean tiredness score (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Compression in CPR is a tiresome procedure. Even if performers take two-minute turns, compression efficiency may decrease in prolonged CPR. Compression performed on stretcher was more tiresome in prolonged CPR. Compression may be more efficient when performed on the floor outside the hospital in prolonged CPR since performers will feel less tired. However, compression performed on stretcher inside the hospital may be more efficient with more than two healthcare workers since it is more tiresome.