One-handed chest compression technique for paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation: dominant versus non-dominant hand

Background: Pediatric resuscitation guidelines do not specify which hand to use for one-handed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in the quality of one-handed chest compressions (OHCCs) using the dominant versus non-dominant hand in simulated paediatric CPR.

Materials and methods: 41 doctors took part in the study. Chest compressions were alternately performed with the dominant (test 1) and non-dominant hand (test 2) in a random order at 30 min intervals. Experiments were carried out with a 5-year-old paediatric manikin without ventilation for 2 min. Data on average compression rate (per min) and average compression depth (mm) were collected and compared.

Results: No significant differences were found in the average compression rate (118.0±14.3/min vs 117.3±14.5/min, p=0.610) and average compression depth (41.3±5.6mm vs 41.9±4.1mm, p=0.327) between tests 1 and 2.

Conclusions: No significant difference was found in the quality of OHCCs using the dominant and non-dominant hand in simulated paediatric CPR. The study suggests there is no need for paediatric resuscitation guidelines to state a preferred hand for performing OHCC.