Effect of vehicle speed on the quality of closed-chest compression during ambulance transport

Tae Nyoung Chung, Sun Wook Kim, Young Soon Cho, Sung Pil Chung, Incheol Park, Seung Ho Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Transport of patients with ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) occurs frequently. It may not be possible to obtain rapid hospital access while maintaining CPR quality, because the ambulance's high speed can cause increased vibration and vehicle movement. We aimed to assess how the speed of ambulance affects chest compressions. Materials and methods: Five cycles of CPR were performed to the Resusci Anne manikin with the PC skill reporting system by experienced emergency medical technicians in ambulance traveling at one of four different speeds: stationary, 30, 60, or 90. km/h. Performance and acceleration data of chest compressions at different speeds were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Fractions of chest compressions with adequate depth, duty cycles, average rates of chest compressions, and no flow fractions showed significant differences among different speeds (p=0.026, <0.001, <0.001, 0.005, respectively), while average depth of chest compressions did not. Accelerations of 2. Hz component and ratios of 3-12. Hz to 0-2. Hz components showed significant differences among different speeds (p=0.001 for all). None of the outcome variables showed a significant difference between the two types of ambulance. Conclusions: The speed of ambulance affects some aspects in the quality of chest compression during transport. Chest compressions with excessive depth, the average rate of chest compressions, and no-flow fraction increase as the speed of ambulance increase. Increase in the speed of ambulance also causes relative increase of high frequency acceleration in the chest compression, which represents unnecessary movement and force applied.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)841-847
Number of pages7
JournalResuscitation
Volume81
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ambulance
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Chest compression
  • Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
  • Transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Emergency
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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