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Single operator cardiopulmonary resuscitation in ambulances
Author(s) -
GREENSLADE G. L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1991.tb09554.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , resuscitation , ventilation (architecture) , anesthesia , breathing , emergency medicine , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary Cardiopulmonary resuscitation en route to hospital is performed by a single‐handed operator in many British ambulances. In this study, three emergency ventilation devices, and mouth‐to‐mouth breathing, were compared for effectiveness in unintubated patients. Seventeen paramedics used each method on a Laerdal manikin in a randomised order, under identical conditions. Three experienced cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructors repeated the tests in a moving ambulance. There were significant differences in minute volume (p < 0.01) and number of effective chest compressions (p < 0.05); mouth‐to‐mouth breathing produced the best overall results and the simplest device was a close second. The value of automatic ventilators for single‐operator cardiopulmonary resuscitation in unintubated patients is questioned.