Comparison of two techniques for detecting cardiac activity in infants

In the 1980 Standards and Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care, the recommended method for determining cardiac arrest in infants was changed from palpation of the apical impulse to palpation of the brachial pulse. The importance of adequately assessing the heart beat before initiating chest compressions due to the potential hazards is well established. This study was designed to ascertain which pulse parents could palpate most readily and accurately count within a given time. The results demonstrated the brachial pulse was much easier to palpate and more accurately counted by parents than the apical impulse. These findings formed the basis for the 1980 revised recommendation for determining cardiac arrest in infants.