Skeletal and soft tissue injuries after manual and mechanical chest compressions

Abstract

Abstract Aims To determine the rate of injuries related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cardiac arrest non-survivors, comparing manual CPR with CPR performed using the Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS). Methods and results We prospectively evaluated 414 deceased adult patients using focused, standardized post-mortem investigation in years 2005 through 2013. Skeletal and soft tissue injuries were noted, and soft tissue injuries were evaluated with respect to degree of severity. We found sternal fracture in 38%, rib fracture in 77%, and severe soft tissue injury in 1.9% of cases treated with CPR with manual chest compressions (n = 52). Treatment with LUCAS CPR (n = 362) was associated with significantly higher rates of sternal fracture (80% of cases), rib fracture (96%), and severe soft tissue injury (10%), including several cases of potentially life-threatening injuries. Conclusion LUCAS CPR causes significantly more CPR-related injuries than manual CPR, while providing no proven survival benefit on a population basis. We suggest judicious use of the LUCAS device for cardiac arrest.