Insertion of the minimally invasive direct cardiac massage device (MIDCM): training on human cadavers.

OBJECTIVE

Recently, a new device for minimally invasive direct cardiac massage (MIDCM) has been developed. In animal models of cardiopulmonary resuscitation MIDCM has been shown to provide better organ perfusion than external chest compressions (ECC) massage. Since this device has been developed to improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation in humans, its use must be simple. Thus, we measured the time required for the insertion of the MIDCM device on human cadavers.

DESIGN

After a 1 h theoretical course, physicians and surgeons were asked to use the MIDCM device on human cadavers. We measured the time from the cutaneous incision to the first direct cardiac compression.

MAIN RESULTS

The mean time required for the insertion of the MIDCM device was 16+/-11 s (range 8-58 s). The insertion time required for each group of physicians were as follows, 15+/-8 s for anaesthesiologists (range 8-28 s), 11+/-2 s for cardiac surgeons (range 9-15 s), 42+/-14 s for cardiologists (range 27-58 s), and 12+/-4 s for intensive care physicians (range 8-18). All participants compared the insertion of the MIDCM device favorably with the insertion of a chest drain.

CONCLUSION

The MIDCM device can be placed in a few seconds in human cadavers by physicians familiar with chest drain insertion. Theoretical course and training with the device may be useful especially for those who are not familiar with chest drain insertion.