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To the Editor: Dr Wik and colleagues¹ studied the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by using a monitor/defibrillator equipped with sensors that measure and record CPR performance variables. They concluded that chest compressions performed by ambulance personnel in their study are often too shallow and that overall CPR performance did not meet current published guidelines.^2-3 The study suggests that CPR quality and patient survival may be improved by using resuscitation aids that give rescuers feedback to deliver chest compressions of correct depth and rate with minimal interruptions.

However, use of these aids and improvements in the way CPR is taught cannot help an average-sized rescuer achieve adequate depth of compression in most adult men and some women. This was demonstrated in a study of the relationship between sternal force and displacement during in-hospital manual CPR.⁴ The minimal compression depth of 38 mm recommended by the American . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Eric M. Rottenberg, AAS
rottenberg.1@osu.edu
Department of Perioperative Services
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus

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