CPR at 45 degree Angle??

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EMSrush

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I was talking with a couple of paramedic students recently, and was surprised to hear that they are now being taught to perform CPR at a 45 degree angle. When I asked why they were being taught to do this, I was told that it had something to do with preserving the airway. I've never heard of this before.

<Glances at AHA CPR card, and sticks it back in wallet>

Has anyone heard of this, and if so, any ideas on the rationale for it?
 
Never heard of that before. CPR = spine board under the patient in supine position.
 
I've never heard of it either. Given the emphasis on good quality compressions, I do not know how I could properly compress 2"+ at a significant angle. Also I don't even know how I would put an adult in this position to begin with.

If compressions at that angle are clinically significant it seems to me it would have to be done with a Lucas
 
I thought for a moment that the student was being funny when he mentioned it, but he wasn't. I wanted to ask around a bit before I said too much; I didn't know if there was some odd study bubbling somewhere that I wasn't aware of.
 
Doing a bit of quick research while here at work, the only reference I found to performing compressions at a 45deg angle was the incorrect answers to multiple choice tests haha...where are these kids going to school at?
 
MediMike said:
Doing a bit of quick research while here at work, the only reference I found to performing compressions at a 45deg angle was the incorrect answers to multiple choice tests haha...where are these kids going to school at?
Click to expand...

By the Red Cross. I saw that earlier, it the only reference I could find as well.
 
Sounds like you, my friend, were had. :lol:

Lets review the goals of CPR and how the forces of gravity work....
 
Just completed AHA BLS for HCP instructor course. The answer is, no.
 
NVRob said:
Sounds like you, my friend, were had. :lol:

Lets review the goals of CPR and how the forces of gravity work....
Click to expand...

Rob- I was NOT had... at least not that I will admit to. :P I was just confused.... and very concerned.... LOL
My first thought, was that perhaps the instructor was being funny, and they took him seriously? I'm gonna do some more digging when I see someone from the "new batch" as I call them...
 
AHA BLS Instructor... Never heard that.
 
The only time I have heard of anything close to this was for inhospital arrests of women with a gestation of >20 weeks. They would provide manual displacement of the uterus for supine pts, then/or tilt the table no more than 30 degrees (head up feet down) with a left lateral tilt to reduce aortocaval compression.

I have only heard of it being done a few times at this particular hospital.
 
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I have heard elevating the head of the cot to 30degrees helps with intubation.

The couple of times I tired it, it seemed to work really well.


I have never heard of elevating the patient for compressions.
 
while ive never heard about this in terms of protecting an airway...we have kept a lucas device on a spine boarded pt that we had to prop up vertically in order to fit into an elevator. cpr in progress the whole time...the spine board was to transport the pt only...no compromised cspine.
 
I have heard of tipping a patient at a slight angle to displace a gravid uterus, but the compressions themselves are still performed at a 90 to the chest. That is the only thing I can think they are talking about.

There is no possible way you could do a shadow of a good compression if you are at a 45 to the chest.
 
Red Cross Instructor for CPR-C/HCP and SFA-C/HCP in Canada. Per Nov 2011 standard upgrade, nothing of this sort in the standards.
 
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