Sole Abdominal Compression Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Novel Technique in the Management of Cardiac Arrest Following Cardiac Surgery

Sole Abdominal Compression Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Novel Technique in the Management of Cardiac Arrest Following Cardiac Surgery

 Augmentation of the effectiveness of chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has taken many forms since the description of manual abdominal compression in 1967. Abdominal binding and a technique of interposed abdominal compression, used in tandem with chest compression, were described in the early 1980’s. Ralston and colleagues found a doubling of cardiac output with the use of abdominal counter-pulsation. On this basis Geddes and colleagues described the use of Sole Abdominal Compression in 2007. This is a bimanual technique that involves the compression of the abdomen in the central subcostal area, pushing 5cm downwards to compress the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava. In animal models, they have found it to be equal or superior to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) in terms of coronary perfusion pressure and arterial pressure. However, it has not been described in clinical practice.