Evaluation of Manual Methods of Resuscitation

A comparative evaluation of manual methods of resuscitation has been made possible by the development of a method for producing prolonged drug-induced apnea in normal human volunteers, using varying amounts of sodium pentothal and curare drugs. This renders the subject unconscious and unable to breathe, in which state he closely resembles the victim who requires artificial respiration. Tests on lung ventilation have revealed that all of the ``push-pull'' manual methods are two to three times as effective, as regards getting air in and out of the lungs, as the commonly used Schafer Method. Use of ``back-pressure'' instead of prone pressure almost doubles the ventilation with the Schafer Method. The Eve Rocking Method, a mechanical method, gives ventilatory volumes intermediary between the Schafer and the ``push-pull'' methods. The Pole-Top Method gives adequate ventilation and should be started immediately when a lineman requires artificial respiration. However, he should be lowered to the ground as soon as possible and one of the more efficient prone methods should be started. Tests on the circulatory effects of the methods have indicated that the Schafer Method was so inadequate that it had to be stopped in three out of nine cases because of the deteriorating condition of the subject. In each case one of the ``push-pull'' techniques was able to adequately sustain the subjects for full 15-minute test periods immediately before and after the Schafer test period which failed.