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Chest Compression Technique

A Neglected Key to Success in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

  • Chapter
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

Abstract

The concept of “external cardiac massage,” first introduced in the early 1960s by Kouwenhoven, Jude, and Knickerbocker (1), includes chest compressions at a rate of 60 to 100 per minute in conjunction with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (2). Refinements of standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) since its introduction in the 1960s have included increasing the rate of chest compression from 60 per minute to 100 per minute, which research makes little difference in blood flow (3), and recently decreasing the tidal volume of the positive pressure ventilations under certain circumstances (2,4). Elimination of the carotid artery pulse check in the year 2000 guidelines has abolished an unnecessary delay in starting chest compressions by lay rescuers. Yet for many of us, chest compression remains the centerpiece of resuscitation from full cardiopulmonary arrest, and there has been precious little investigation of how to do it properly.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

    Charles F. Babbs MD, PhD

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  1. Charles F. Babbs MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA

    Joseph P. Ornato MD, FACP, FACC, FACEP  & Mary Ann Peberdy MD, FACC  & 

  2. Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA

    Joseph P. Ornato MD, FACP, FACC, FACEP  & Mary Ann Peberdy MD, FACC  & 

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Babbs, C.F. (2005). Chest Compression Technique. In: Ornato, J.P., Peberdy, M.A. (eds) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-814-5:155

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-814-5:155

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-283-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-814-4

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