Closed Chest Cardiac Massage in the Newborn Infant
1 From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The recommended techniques for external cardiac compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation of the newborn are reviewed. The American Heart Association advises the rescuer to depress the infant's midsternum with the index and forefingers. An alternative recommendation is to encircle the chest with both hands and appose the thumbs on the midsternum. The cases reported here prove the superiority of the latter maneuver over the former in improving cardiac output and systemic blood pressures. The history of external cardiac compression in infants and children is briefly reviewed, further supporting the conclusion that the technique of encircling the chest with thumbs at midsternum is more efficacious and hence the preferred approach to closed chest cardiac massage in the newborn.
Key Words: newborn • cardiac massage
Submitted on December 18, 1986
Accepted on June 3, 1987
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  American Heart Association 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) of Pediatric and Neonatal Patients: Pediatric Basic Life Support Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5): e989 - e1004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Heart Association, American Academy of Pe 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) of Pediatric and Neonatal Patients: Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5): e1029 - e1038. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitati The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations for Pediatric and Neonatal Patients: Pediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5): e955 - e977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Part 11: Pediatric Basic Life Support Circulation, December 13, 2005; 112(24_suppl): IV-156 - IV-166. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part 13: Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines Circulation, December 13, 2005; 112(24_suppl): IV-188 - IV-195. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part 6: Pediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support Circulation, November 29, 2005; 112(22_suppl): III-73 - III-90. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributors and Reviewers for the Neonatal Resusc International Guidelines for Neonatal Resuscitation: An Excerpt From the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science Pediatrics, September 1, 2000; 106(3): 29e - 29. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Kattwinkel, S. Niermeyer, V. Nadkarni, J. Tibballs, B. Phillips, D. Zideman, P. Van Reempts, and M. Osmond ILCOR Advisory Statement: Resuscitation of the Newly Born Infant : An Advisory Statement From the Pediatric Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Circulation, April 13, 1999; 99(14): 1927 - 1938. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Kattwinkel, S. Niermeyer, V. Nadkarni, J. Tibballs, B. Phillips, D. Zideman, P. Van Reempts, and M. Osmond An Advisory Statement From the Pediatric Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Pediatrics, April 1, 1999; 103(4): 56e - 56. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 THE PREFERRED METHOD OF CPR IN NEWBORNS Journal Watch (General), April 22, 1988; 1988(422): 1 - 1. [Full Text]
|
|
