Quality on-line monitoring of active compression decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Active compression decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is considered to be an acceptable alternative to standard (STD) CPR, but an optimal compression and decompression pattern has to be ensured, ACD CPR can be evaluated during CPR training sessions using commercially available manikins; however devices for recording compression and decompression forces or frequency during real CPR are lacking. Using the original Ambu CardioPump the authors integrated two force transducers into the device and by self-built electronics and a portable computer, compression and decompression forces can be measured and displayed continuously with all data saved for later retrieval. Maximum compression force, compression frequency and the compression decompression phase are calculated online during real CPR action. Linearity of force measurement was better than 6% within a -250 to +500 N range. The error in repeatability was below 5% thus outperforming the original mechanical force measurement system of the Ambu CardioPump(R). Compression frequency was calculated very accurately (error <1%). The system has been successfully used during CPR training and under research conditions as well as in 5 out-of-hospital CPR casualties. Simple and reliable in use, our modified CardioPump(R) with integrated electronics provides a state-of-the-art solution for monitoring ACD-CPR. It warrants quality assurance during ACD-CPR training and in real CPR scenarios and guarantees accurate recording of compression and decompression forces and compression frequency.