Effects of alternating hands during in‐hospital one‐handed chest compression: A randomised cross‐over manikin trial

Objective We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during continuous one‐handed chest compression ( OHCC ) in an in‐hospital paediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands could delay the decrease in chest compression depth. Methods I n total, 30 healthcare providers were randomised into groups A and B . Group A performed test 1 (chest compressors alternated hands every 30 s in 2 min of OHCC ), followed by test 2 (chest compressors used one hand for 2 min without switching to the other hand) and group B , vice versa. Participants performed 2 min continuous OHCC on a paediatric manikin on a bed. Mean compression depth ( MCD ) and mean compression rate ( MCR ) were analysed at 30 s intervals. Results The MCDs in 30 s intervals changed significantly with time passed in tests 1 and 2 (0–30 s: 43.4 ± 7.4 vs 42.8 ± 7.6 mm, 30–60 s: 42.8 ± 8.7 vs 40.3 ± 8.8 mm, 60–90 s: 40.5 ± 8.9 vs 38.2 ± 9.6 mm, 90–120 s: 40.2 ± 10.2 vs 36.9 ± 9.7 mm; P < 0.01). However, with the exception of the first 30 s interval, MCD in test 1 showed significantly higher values than in test 2 ( P < 0.05). The MCRs in 30 s intervals did not change significantly with time passed in all tests and were not different between the two tests. All hand‐off times measured during switching hands in test 1 were less than 1 s. Conclusions Chest compression depth decreased significantly when continuous OHCC was performed without switching hands. Alternating hands every 30 s can delay the decrease in MCD and maintain deeper MCD for longer.