Leg-foot chest compressions: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Resuscitation Science

Background:

• High-quality chest compressions (CCs) are critical for successful resuscitation.
• Standard hand CCs can be physically demanding and difficult to perform correctly.
• Leg-foot CCs present a potential alternative when hand CCs are challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing literature on leg-foot CCs.
• To describe current evidence regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of leg-foot CCs.
• To identify gaps in research concerning leg-foot CCs and their impact on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was performed, searching eight databases and other sources from 1960 to 2024.
• Studies involving leg-foot CCs on humans, animals, or manikins were included.
• Outcomes assessed included feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness (rate, depth, recoil, location) compared to hand CCs.

Main Results:

• Fourteen studies comparing leg-foot and hand CCs were identified, all utilizing manikins; no human studies were found.
• Manikin studies showed variable results regarding compression depth, rate, recoil, and location.
• Some studies suggested potential benefits for heavier participants or with balance aids, and mixed findings on fatigue reduction.

Conclusions:

• No human studies on leg-foot CCs were identified in this review.
• While manikin studies indicate feasibility and potential fatigue reduction, results are inconsistent.
• Further research, including animal and human trials, is essential to evaluate the efficacy and safety of leg-foot CCs.