Risk factors for the occurrence of traumatic vacuum phenomenon after chest compression for patients with cardiac arrest

Abstract

We retrospectively investigated the risk factors for the occurrence of traumatic vacuum phenomenon (TVP) after chest compression for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) using computed tomography (CT). A medical chart review was performed for all patients with out-of-hospital endogenous CPA. The subjects were divided into two groups: TVP + group and the TVP – group. 110 patients were enrolled as subjects. TVP was observed in 33. The rates of witness collapse and rib fracture were significantly higher in the TVP + group than in the TVP – group. The duration from the commencement of CPR by emergency medical technicians to the CT examination in the TVP + group was significantly longer than in the TVP – group. Accordingly, among patients with out-of-hospital CPA, witness collapse, rib fracture and a longer duration from the commencement of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by EMTs to the CT examination were risk factors for TVP.