What is the optimal chest compression-ventilation ratio?
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite a more widespread knowledge of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers in the community, the survival rate for patients with cardiac arrest has remained essentially unchanged in the past 30 years. Over the past few decades, many different compression-ventilation ratios have been studied in terms of best coronary and cerebral oxygen delivery, restoration of spontaneous circulation, and neurologic outcome. This article summarizes the recent evidence presented at the International Consensus on Resuscitation Science in January 2005. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent data from animal and mathematical models suggest a move to a higher compression-ventilation ratio to maximize coronary and cerebral oxygen delivery during cardiac arrest and long-term neurologic outcome. Prospective randomized human data on alternative compression-ventilation ratios are missing and new evidence seems to indicate the inadequacy of both lay and professional rescuers in providing chest compr
Despite a more widespread knowledge of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers in the community, the survival rate for patients with cardiac arrest has remained essentially unchanged in the past 30 years. Over the past few decades, many different compression-ventilation ratios have been studied in terms of best coronary and cerebral oxygen delivery, restoration of spontaneous circulation, and neurologic outcome. This article summarizes the recent evidence presented at the International Consensus on Resuscitation Science in January 2005.