What should be allowed between chest compressions?

What should be allowed between chest compressions?

• A. Partial recoil
• B. Full chest recoil
• C. No recoil
• D. Shallow recoil

Answer: (B)

Allow full chest recoil between compressions. Letting the chest return completely to its normal position after each press lets intrathoracic pressure drop back to baseline, which maximizes venous return to the heart and restores ventricular filling for the next compression. This full recoil also helps maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures during CPR. If you only partially recoil, or don’t let the chest rise fully, venous return is reduced and the effectiveness of each compression drops. No recoil would keep the heart from filling properly, greatly decreasing blood flow. In practice, avoid leaning on the chest between compressions so the chest can fully recoil each time.

Allow full chest recoil between compressions. Letting the chest return completely to its normal position after each press lets intrathoracic pressure drop back to baseline, which maximizes venous return to the heart and restores ventricular filling for the next compression. This full recoil also helps maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures during CPR. If you only partially recoil, or don’t let the chest rise fully, venous return is reduced and the effectiveness of each compression drops. No recoil would keep the heart from filling properly, greatly decreasing blood flow. In practice, avoid leaning on the chest between compressions so the chest can fully recoil each time.