Comparison of chest compressions in the standing position beside a bed at knee level and the kneeling position: a non-randomised, single-blind, cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND: When rescuers perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a standing position, the height at which chest compressions are carried out is raised.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chest compressions delivered on a bed adjusted to rescuer's knee height are as effective as those delivered on the floor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 fourth-year medical students participated in the study. The students performed chest compressions for 2 min each on a manikin lying on the floor (test 1) and on a manikin lying on a bed (test 2). The average compression rate (ACR) and the average compression depth (ACD) were compared between the two tests.

RESULTS: The ACR was not significantly different between tests 1 and 2 (120.1 to 132.9  vs 115.7 to 131.2 numbers/min, 95% CI, p=0.324). The ACD was also not significantly different between tests 1 and 2 (51.2 to 56.6 vs 49.4 to 55.7 mm, 95% CI, p=0.058).

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that there may be no significant differences in compression rate and depth between CPR performed on manikins placed on the floor and those placed at a rescuer's knee height.