Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Effective infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) relies on high-quality chest compressions, yet the optimal technique for single-rescuer scenarios remains debated. Although widely used, the two-finger technique (TFT) is associated with an inadequate comp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marek Solecki, Monika Tomaszewska, Michal Pruc, Magdalena Myga-Nowak, Wojciech Wieczorek, Burak Katipoglu, Basar Cander, Lukasz Szarpak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/346
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850203823176417280
author Marek Solecki
Monika Tomaszewska
Michal Pruc
Magdalena Myga-Nowak
Wojciech Wieczorek
Burak Katipoglu
Basar Cander
Lukasz Szarpak
author_facet Marek Solecki
Monika Tomaszewska
Michal Pruc
Magdalena Myga-Nowak
Wojciech Wieczorek
Burak Katipoglu
Basar Cander
Lukasz Szarpak
author_sort Marek Solecki
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Effective infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) relies on high-quality chest compressions, yet the optimal technique for single-rescuer scenarios remains debated. Although widely used, the two-finger technique (TFT) is associated with an inadequate compression depth and increased rescuer fatigue. While the two-thumb encircling hands technique (TTHT) provides a superior compression depth, its application in single-rescuer scenarios is impractical. This study evaluates a novel technique (nT) as a potential alternative, aiming to optimize both compression efficacy and rescuer endurance. <b>Methods</b>: This randomized crossover study assessed the efficacy of the TFT, TTHT, and nT in a simulated infant CPR setting. Medical students trained in newborn and infant resuscitation performed all three techniques in a controlled environment using a high-fidelity neonatal simulator. We objectively measured and compared key CPR performance metrics, rescuer fatigue, and hand pain among the techniques. <b>Results</b>: The nT and TTHT outperformed the TFT in compression depth, rescuer endurance, and overall CPR quality. The nT achieved the highest adequate compression rate (92.4% vs. 78.6% for TTHT and 65.2% for TFT) while minimizing fatigue (RPE: 3.1 vs. 4.5 for TTHT and 6.2 for TFT) and hand pain (NRS: 1.8 vs. 3.9 for TTHT and 5.4 for TFT). TTHT produced the deepest compressions (mean: 44.2 mm vs. 42.9 mm for nT and 38.6 mm for TFT, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Rescuer anthropometric factors (sex, weight, and height) affected all techniques similarly, suggesting no inherent advantage based on body characteristics. <b>Conclusions</b>: Both the nT and TTHT outperformed the TFT, with the nT demonstrating superior rescuer endurance while maintaining high-quality compressions. Given its ergonomic benefits and effectiveness, the nT emerges as a promising alternative for single-rescuer infant CPR and warrants consideration for future resuscitation guidelines.
format Article
id doaj-art-660d46f9403f42de982b0fd8f8e4f6ee
institution OA Journals
issn 2227-9067
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Children
spelling doaj-art-660d46f9403f42de982b0fd8f8e4f6ee2025-08-20T02:11:25ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-03-0112334610.3390/children12030346Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer ScenariosMarek Solecki0Monika Tomaszewska1Michal Pruc2Magdalena Myga-Nowak3Wojciech Wieczorek4Burak Katipoglu5Basar Cander6Lukasz Szarpak7Department of Clinical Research and Development, LUXMED Group, 02-678 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Research and Development, LUXMED Group, 02-678 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Research and Development, LUXMED Group, 02-678 Warsaw, PolandCollegium Medicum, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 42-200 Czestochowa, PolandDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, PolandClinic of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, 06170 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, TurkeyDepartment of Clinical Research and Development, LUXMED Group, 02-678 Warsaw, Poland<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Effective infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) relies on high-quality chest compressions, yet the optimal technique for single-rescuer scenarios remains debated. Although widely used, the two-finger technique (TFT) is associated with an inadequate compression depth and increased rescuer fatigue. While the two-thumb encircling hands technique (TTHT) provides a superior compression depth, its application in single-rescuer scenarios is impractical. This study evaluates a novel technique (nT) as a potential alternative, aiming to optimize both compression efficacy and rescuer endurance. <b>Methods</b>: This randomized crossover study assessed the efficacy of the TFT, TTHT, and nT in a simulated infant CPR setting. Medical students trained in newborn and infant resuscitation performed all three techniques in a controlled environment using a high-fidelity neonatal simulator. We objectively measured and compared key CPR performance metrics, rescuer fatigue, and hand pain among the techniques. <b>Results</b>: The nT and TTHT outperformed the TFT in compression depth, rescuer endurance, and overall CPR quality. The nT achieved the highest adequate compression rate (92.4% vs. 78.6% for TTHT and 65.2% for TFT) while minimizing fatigue (RPE: 3.1 vs. 4.5 for TTHT and 6.2 for TFT) and hand pain (NRS: 1.8 vs. 3.9 for TTHT and 5.4 for TFT). TTHT produced the deepest compressions (mean: 44.2 mm vs. 42.9 mm for nT and 38.6 mm for TFT, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Rescuer anthropometric factors (sex, weight, and height) affected all techniques similarly, suggesting no inherent advantage based on body characteristics. <b>Conclusions</b>: Both the nT and TTHT outperformed the TFT, with the nT demonstrating superior rescuer endurance while maintaining high-quality compressions. Given its ergonomic benefits and effectiveness, the nT emerges as a promising alternative for single-rescuer infant CPR and warrants consideration for future resuscitation guidelines.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/346infant CPRchest compression techniquestwo-finger techniquetwo-thumb encircling hands techniquenovel compression techniqueCPR quality
spellingShingle Marek Solecki
Monika Tomaszewska
Michal Pruc
Magdalena Myga-Nowak
Wojciech Wieczorek
Burak Katipoglu
Basar Cander
Lukasz Szarpak
Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
Children
infant CPR
chest compression techniques
two-finger technique
two-thumb encircling hands technique
novel compression technique
CPR quality
title Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
title_full Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
title_fullStr Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
title_short Evaluating Novel Chest Compression Technique in Infant CPR: Enhancing Efficacy and Reducing Rescuer Fatigue in Single-Rescuer Scenarios
title_sort evaluating novel chest compression technique in infant cpr enhancing efficacy and reducing rescuer fatigue in single rescuer scenarios
topic infant CPR
chest compression techniques
two-finger technique
two-thumb encircling hands technique
novel compression technique
CPR quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/346
work_keys_str_mv AT mareksolecki evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT monikatomaszewska evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT michalpruc evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT magdalenamyganowak evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT wojciechwieczorek evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT burakkatipoglu evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT basarcander evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios
AT lukaszszarpak evaluatingnovelchestcompressiontechniqueininfantcprenhancingefficacyandreducingrescuerfatigueinsinglerescuerscenarios