OBJECTIVE: This study examined the efficacy of new delta carotid sinus massage (CSM) versus conventional CSM (CM). METHODS: This prospective, cross-over study was conducted on 26 healthy volunteers with a normal sinus rhythm. CM and delta CSM (DM) were performed in all participants. In both cases, the CSM was performed, where the maximal carotid pulse was palpated. DM differed from CM in that the physician moves the palpating finger in the opposite direction of the carotid pulse at least twice. The mean and longest R-R intervals and mean and lowest heart rates (HRs) at the baseline and during the procedure for each technique were compared. The mean differences between the baseline and procedure R-R intervals and the HRs for each technique were also evaluated. RESULTS: The baseline mean and longest R-R intervals and baseline mean and lowest HRs were similar both groups (P>0.05). The procedure DM mean and longest R-R intervals (22.7±3.1, 26.4±4.9) were significantly greater than the CM corresponding values (22.0±3.1, 24.6±3.5; P<0.001, P=0.003). Procedure DM mean and lowest HRs (67.3±9.7, 58.6±10.7) were significantly lower than the CM corresponding values (69.4±10.0, 61.8±8.9; P=0.001, P=0.003). The differences in the R-R interval and HR between the procedure and baseline were significant (mean and longest R-R intervals with CM [1.3±1.5 and 2.1±1.9] vs. DM [2.0±1.4 and 3.8±3.1], P<0.001, P=0.004; mean and lowest HRs with CM [4.2±4.3 and 5.8±4.6] vs. DM [6.3±4.6 and 9.1±6.5], P<0.001, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: DM is more effective in generating a more potent vagal tone than CM.
Carotid Sinus ; Cross-Over Studies ; Electrocardiography ; Fingers ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Massage ; Methods ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the applicability of haptic feedback using a smartwatch to the delivery of cardiac compression (CC) by professional healthcare providers. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled, case-crossover, standardized simulation study of 20 medical professionals was conducted. The participants were randomly assigned into haptic-first and non-haptic-first groups. The primary outcome was an adequate rate of 100–120/min of CC. The secondary outcome was a comparison of CC rate and adequate duration between the good and bad performance groups. RESULTS: The mean interval between CCs and the number of haptic and non-haptic feedback-assisted CCs with an adequate duration were insignificant. In the subgroup analysis, both the good and bad performance groups showed a significant difference in the mean CC interval between the haptic and non-haptic feedback-assisted CC groups—good: haptic feedback-assisted (0.57–0.06) vs. non-haptic feedback-assisted (0.54–0.03), p < 0.001; bad: haptic feedback-assisted (0.57–0.07) vs. non-haptic feedback-assisted (0.58–0.18), p = 0.005—and the adequate chest compression number showed significant differences— good: haptic feedback-assisted (1,597/75.1%) vs. non-haptic feedback-assisted (1,951/92.2%), p < 0.001; bad: haptic feedbackassisted (1,341/63.5%) vs. non-haptic feedback-assisted (523/25.4%), p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: A smartwatch cardiopulmonary resuscitation feedback system could not improve rescuers' CC rate. According to our subgroup analysis, participants might be aided by the device to increase the percentage of adequate compressions after one minute.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Health Personnel ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Simulation Training ; Smartphone ; Thorax

BACKGROUNDRhythmical massage therapy (RMT) is a massage technique used in anthroposophic medicine.

OBJECTIVEThe authors aimed to investigate the physiological action of RMT on the cardiovascular system by analysing heart rate variability (HRV).

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONThis study was a randomised, controlled and single-blinded trial, involving 44 healthy women (mean age: (26.20 ± 4.71) years). The subjects were randomised to one of three arms: RMT with aromatic oil (RA), RMT without aromatic oil (RM) or standardised sham massage (SM). In the study the subjects were exposed to a standardised stress situation followed by one of the study techniques and Holter electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded for 24 h.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESHRV parameters were calculated from linear (time and frequency domain) and nonlinear dynamics (symbolic dynamics, Poincare plot analysis) of the 24-h Holter ECG records.

RESULTSShort- and long-term effects of massage on autonomic regulation differed significantly among the three groups. Immediately after an RMT session, stimulation of HRV was found in the groups RA and RM. The use of an aromatic oil produced greater short-term measurable changes in HRV compared with rhythmic massage alone, but after 24 h the effect was no longer distinguishable from the RM group. The lowest stimulation of HRV parameters was measured in the SM group.

CONCLUSIONRMT causes specific and marked stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Use of a medicinal aromatic oil had only a temporary effect on HRV, indicating that the RM causes the most relevant long-term effect. The effect is relatively specific, as the physiological effects seen in the group of subjects who received only SM were considerably less pronounced.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONRegistration trial DRKS00004164 on DRKS.

Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult

The emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is a bold and challenging procedure, which may be the only chance of survival for some moribund trauma patients. EDT provides ample exposure to the injury site of the heart, enabling an effective open cardiac massage. Clamshell thoracotomy is a rapid and simple procedure that provides excellent exposure to internal structures. Because EDT has more favorable outcomes for penetrating injuries than for blunt injuries, the indication for EDT in patients with blunt trauma should be well established. Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition that requires emergent pericardial decompression. EDT has been associated with successful initial resuscitation for traumatic cardiac arrest with cardiac tamponade. To date, there has not been any reports of clamshell incision via EDT for trauma patients in South Korea. Hence, herein, we describe two cases in which EDT with clamshell incision was implemented for cardiac tamponade with cardiac arrest after blunt trauma.
Cardiac Tamponade* ; Decompression ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Korea ; Resuscitation ; Thoracotomy* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a simple verbal instruction regarding the rescuer gazing point can improve the depth of chest compressions (CCs) in the hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Participants who took part in basic life support training courses for lay-rescuers were eligible for inclusion in this prospective, single-blinded, cluster randomized controlled study. After the training courses, both the control and the intervention groups performed the hands-only CPR for two minutes on a manikin placed on the ground. Immediately prior to CCs, instructors provided the intervention group with brief verbal instructions to look in the opposite direction of the adducted arm after placing the heel of the hand on the mid-sternum. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two participants (61 for each group) were enrolled in this study. The intervention group showed significantly deeper CCs than the control group (47.9±8.2 mm vs. 43±8.4 mm, p<0.01); however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the quality of chest recoil, CC rate, or duty cycle of CCs. However, the frequency of incorrect hand position was higher in the intervention group when compared with the control group (10.3 [2.3-35.7] vs. 5.7 [0-33.0], p=0.036) CONCLUSION: Instructions to look in the opposite direction of the adducted arm during CCs improved the mean depth of CCs without significant adverse effects on the quality of recoil, CC rate, or duty cycle of CCs. However, the frequency of incorrect hand position was higher in the intervention group than the control group.
Arm ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Education ; Hand ; Heart Massage ; Heel ; Manikins ; Prospective Studies ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of hand massage with nail art on depression, self-esteem and vital signs of elderly women. METHODS: The research design was one group pre and post test experimental design. Data were collected from December 7 to December 14, 2015. All participants had hand massage with nail art for 10 minutes. Depression, self-esteem and vital signs were measured before, immediately after the hand massage with nail art and one week later. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS/Win 12.0 Program. RESULTS: Depression (F=30.80, p<.001), self-esteem (F=60.02, p<.000), diastolic pressure (F=29.56, p<.001) and body temperature (F=13.87, p<.001) were significantly different compared to pre-study values. Systolic pressure (F=3.85, p=.059) and pulse rate (F=0.32, p=.576) had no significant difference compared to pre-study values. CONCLUSION: The findings of this research show that hand massage with nail art has positive effects on decreasing depression and improving self-esteem for senior women who chose nail polish colour by themselves.
Aged* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Depression* ; Female ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing Homes* ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Vital Signs*

PURPOSE: One-handed chest compression (OHCC) technique is performed by one hand. Therefore chest compression (CC) depth might decrease rapidly. This study will evaluate the patterns of CC depth decaying in performing OHCC and assess the effects of alternating the hand which performs CC on the patterns of CC depth decaying. METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective randomized manikin simulation trial. Students of medical college participated. First, 10 students performed OHCC (chest compression:ventilation=30:2) in a pediatric manikin lying on a hard floor for 5 minutes (baseline study). After the baseline study, 32 students were recruited and randomized to group A and B. Group A performed OHCC with hand shift every other cycle (test 1). Group B performed OHCC with hand shift when they feel fatigue (test 2). The compression data were collected using the CPRmeter. The mean compression depths (MCD) were calculated at one minute intervals using the Q-CPR review software. The heart rates were monitored and the fatigue scales were collected every 1 minute. RESULTS: The MCD values were decreased significantly after 1 minute in the baseline study (p<0.05). However they were not changed in test 1 and decreased significantly after 4 minutes in test 2 (p<0.05). The heart rate and the fatigue scales were increased significantly with time in all tests (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: When OHCC was performed without shifting the hand which performed CC, the MCD decreased significantly after 1 minute. However, we could delay the time of decreasing MCD by shifting the hand which performed CC.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Deception ; Fatigue* ; Hand* ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Massage ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Manikins* ; Pilot Projects* ; Prospective Studies* ; Thorax* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of counting numbers out for giving breaths on the interruption time (IT) of chest compressions (CCs) and chest compression fraction (CCF) in the 2-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Thirty medical students were enrolled in this randomized control simulation study, and were randomly divided into the control group and the study group. Both groups performed 2-rescuer CPR for 5-cycles with giving breaths using a bag-mask. Only participants in the study group were instructed to count numbers out for each breath verbally ("one, two") at the end point of each inspiration period and immediately perform CCs at the point of counting "two". RESULTS: However, no differences in terms of depth, rate, incorrect location, and duty cycle of CCs, as well as ventilation volume of each breath, time to delivery of two breaths, and counts of breathing during 1 minute were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study group had significantly shorter IT and higher CCF compared with the control group. And no significant differences in the other measured parameters of CPR quality were observed between the two groups.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Manikins* ; Pilot Projects* ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Students, Medical ; Thorax* ; Ventilation

The change of compressing personnel will inevitably accompany hands off time when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed by two or more rescuers. The present study assessed whether changing compression by a second rescuer located on the opposite side (OS) of the first rescuer can reduce hands-off time compared to CPR on the same side (SS) when CPR is performed by two rescuers. The scenario of this randomized, controlled, parallel simulation study was compression-only CPR by two laypersons in a pre-hospital situation. Considering sex ratio, 64 participants were matched up in 32 teams equally divided into two gender groups, i.e. , homogenous or heterogeneous. Each team was finally allocated to one of two study groups according to the position of changing compression (SS or OS). Every team performed chest compression for 8 min and 10 sec, with chest compression changed every 2 min. The primary endpoint was cumulative hands-off time. Cumulative hands-off time of the SS group was about 2 sec longer than the OS group, and was significant (6.6 +/- 2.6 sec vs. 4.5 +/- 1.5 sec, P = 0.005). The range of hands off time of the SS group was wider than for the OS group. The mean hands-off times of each rescuer turn significantly shortened with increasing number of turns (P = 0.005). A subgroup analysis in which cumulative hands-off time was divided into three subgroups in 5-sec intervals revealed that about 70% of the SS group was included in subgroups with delayed hands-off time > or = 5 sec, with only 25% of the OS group included in these subgroups (P = 0.033). Changing compression at the OS of each rescuer reduced hands-off time compared to the SS in prehospital hands-only CPR provided by two bystanders.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Clinical Competence/*statistics & numerical data ; Emergency Medical Services/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Heart Arrest/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Heart Massage/methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Workload/*statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

A 46-year-old male arrived at the emergency department with acute dyspnea. On the way to the hospital, heart massage was performed in the ambulance due to asystole on electrocardiography. After 2 hr of resuscitation, sinus rhythm was restored. Extracorporeal life support and an intra-aortic balloon pump were applied due to cardiogenic shock, but the patient showed sustained hypotension. Echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion with physiological evidence of cardiac tamponade; emergency pericardiocentesis was performed, which produced bloody pericardial fluid. An explorative sternotomy revealed a massive hematoma in the mediastinum and right ventricular (RV) free wall rupture. After primary repair, echocardiography showed improved left ventricular systolic function and the patient was stable clinically. This case presents RV free wall rupture as an unusual complication of prolonged heart massage. Heart rupture should be considered in hemodynamically unstable patients after prolonged heart massage.
Ambulances ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac* ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Massage ; Heart Rupture ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Resuscitation ; Rupture* ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Sternotomy