Where is the left ventricle during cardiopulmonary resuscitation based on chest computed tomography in the expiration...

Patients usually receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation during ventilatory expiration and with their arms down, which does not reflect the normal imaging position. This study used scout images from low-dose chest computed tomography to compare the locations of the left ventricle (LV) in the expiration with arms down position (EAD) and in the full inspirational with arms raised position (IAR).

This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample and evaluated scout images that were obtained during screening with the participants in the EAD and IAR positions. The effective compression point was defined as being on the sternum above the longest anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the LV (using axial computed tomography images). The sternum was divided into three parts and the heart's position was evaluated on the EAD and the IAR images, and the distance from the xiphoid process to the LV's sternum landmark (XLVD) was measured. We also examined the compressible organs during CPR based on the EAD and IAR images.

We enrolled 127 participants. The LVs were located in the middle of the sternum at EAD for 117 participants (92%) and in the lower half of the sternum at IAR for 107 participants (84%). The mean XLVD was significantly different between the EAD and IAR positions (mean: 85 ± 21 mm vs. 33 ± 17 mm, respectively). The liver's left lobe was located in the lower half of the sternum at EAD for 118 participants (93%).

These findings indicate that the location of the LV during cardiopulmonary resuscitation might be in the middle of the sternum if the patient is treated in the EAD position.