Echocardiographic observations during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a preliminary report

Echocardiographic studies were conducted during CPR to establish whether blood flow through the heart was passive or whether cardiac compression accounted for forward blood flow. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed on anesthetized minipigs during external CPR and open-chest cardiac massage. With external compression, mitral valve closure was observed during compression systole and valve opening during compression diastole. The aortic valve opened during compression systole and closed during compression diastole. Identical observations were made during open-chest cardiac compression. Left ventricular area was computed during compression systole. A 24% reduction in the area of the left ventricle during precordial compression confirmed left ventricular ejection of blood. Saline tracer was injected into the right and left ventricles. Echocardiographic observation of the tracer demonstrated forward blood flow across the pulmonic and aortic outflow tracts during compression. There was minimal valvular regurgitation. These findings support the concept of cardiac compression as a mechanism for forward blood flow during open- and closed-chest CPR.