• Mun Ki Min, Seok Ran Yeom, Ji Ho Ryu, Yong In Kim, Maeng Real Park, Sang Kyoon Han, Seong Hwa Lee, and Suck Ju Cho.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Republic of Korea.
• Resuscitation. 2013 Sep 1;84(9):1279-84.

ObjectivesThis study was designed to assess changes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality and rescuer fatigue when rescuers are provided with a break during continuous chest compression CPR (CCC-CPR).MethodsThe present prospective, randomized crossover study involved 63 emergency medical technician trainees. The subjects performed three different CCC-CPR methods on a manikin model. The first method was general CCC-CPR without a break (CCC), the second included a 10-s break after 200 chest compressions (10/200), and the third included a 10-s break after 100 chest compressions (10/100). All methods were performed for 10 min. We counted the total number of compressions and those with appropriate depth every 1 min during the 10 min and measured mean compression depth from the start of chest compressions to 10 min.ResultsThe 10/100 method showed the deepest compression depth, followed by the 10/200 and CCC methods. The mean compression depth showed a significant difference after 5 min had elapsed. The percentage of adequate compressions per min was calculated as the proportion of compressions with appropriate depth among total chest compressions. The percentage of adequate compressions declined over time for all methods. The 10/100 method showed the highest percentage of adequate compressions, followed by the 10/200 and CCC methods.ConclusionWhen rescuers were provided a rest at a particular time during CCC-CPR, chest compression quality increased compared with CCC without rest. Therefore, we propose that a rescuer should be provided a rest during CCC-CPR, and specifically, we recommend a 10-s rest after 100 chest compressions.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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