The composition of gas given by mouth-to-mouth ventilation during CPR.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the concentration of a rescuer's exhaled O2 and CO2 during mouth-to-mouth ventilation with or without chest compression.

DESIGN

Prospective repeated measures study. Simulated one- and two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed as recommended by the American Heart Association.

SETTING

University laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-five healthcare professionals certified in basic and advanced cardiac life support volunteered as rescuers in this study.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Thirty-three volunteers performed one-rescuer CPR, and 22 volunteers performed two-rescuer CPR. Minute ventilation for both groups increased 50% to 130% during CPR (p < 0.05). During the performance of CPR, the concentration of exhaled O2 increased from 16.4 +/- 0.7% to 16.9 +/- 0.5% in the one-rescuer CPR group and from 16.5 +/- 0.9% to 17.8 +/- 0.6% in the two-rescuer CPR group (p < 0.05). The concentration of exhaled CO2 in the one-rescuer CPR group did not change significantly throughout the entire experiment, but decreased in the two-rescuer CPR group from a baseline measurement of 4.0 +/- 0.6% to 3.5 +/- 0.4% (p < 0.05). During CPR, the concentration of exhaled CO2 was 4.0 +/- 0.4% in the one-rescuer CPR group compared with 3.5 +/- 0.4% in the two-rescuer CPR group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The gas given by mouth-to-mouth ventilation is a hypercarbic and hypoxic mixture compared with room air. Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is the only circumstance in which a hypercarbic and hypoxic gas is given as therapy. Further laboratory and clinical studies are necessary to determine the effect of mouth-to-mouth ventilation during CPR.