What is Chest Compression Fraction?

The Chest Compression Fraction measures the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each compression. A low CCF can indicate that the heart is not pumping effectively and may be a sign of heart failure, while high CCF can indicate that the heart is overworking and may be a sign of heart disease. Targeting a CCF of at least 60% is intended to limit interruptions in compressions and maximize coronary perfusion during resuscitation. This was calculated by automated external defibrillator analytic software that permitted identification of all interruptions greater than 2 seconds or 3 seconds. CCF can also be measured using various methods, including
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT
Chest Compression Fraction should be monitored closely in people with heart conditions and those taking medications that can affect heart function. The CCF can be affected by several factors, including the following:
- Heart's size
- Heart muscle's strength
- Amount of blood in the heart
- Heart rate
- Blood Pressure
- Medications
What is the goal for compression fraction?
The goal for compression fraction is to achieve a CCF of at least 80%. This means that 80% of the total CPR time should be spent performing chest compressions. Studies have shown that higher CCFs are associated with better outcomes in patients who suffer from cardiac arrest, so it is important to strive for this target. Additionally, pauses in chest compressions should be minimized as much as possible , as they can reduce the effectiveness of CPR.
Why is chest compression fraction important in resuscitation efforts?
Chest compression fraction (CCF) is a metric used to measure the effectiveness of chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It is calculated by determining the amount of time spent performing chest compressions compared to the total CPR time. The higher the CCF, the more effective the chest compressions are. This is important in resuscitation efforts because adequate chest compressions are necessary for the heart to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body and increase a patient's chance of survival. Therefore, it is essential that CPR protocols be followed in order to achieve an adequate CCF.
What are the differences in chest compression fraction between manual and mechanical chest compressions during CPR?
The chest compression fraction (CCF) is an important indicator of the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When comparing manual and mechanical chest compressions during CPR, there are several differences in CCF. Manual chest compressions typically have a lower CCF than mechanical chest compressions due to factors such as fatigue and inadequate depth or rate of compressions. Additionally, manual chest compressions may have shorter pauses between compressions, which can result in a lower CCF. Mechanical chest compressions often have higher CCFs due to the consistent rate and depth of the compressions as well as longer pauses between each compression.
How can chest compression fraction be calculated and what is considered an optimal range?
Chest compression fraction (CCF) can be calculated by dividing the total time spent performing chest compressions by the total CPR time, including pauses for breaths and other activities. The result is the CCF. For example, if chest compressions are performed for 4 minutes out of a total CPR time of 10 minutes, the CCF is 40%. An optimal range for CCF is considered to be 80%, meaning that 80% of the total CPR time should be spent performing chest compressions.
How can chest compression fraction be improved?
Chest compression fraction is often poor and thus provides a considerable opportunity for improvement. Interruptions in chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation have long been thought to impact the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients negatively. Continuous chest compressions should be more effective in improving the CCF than conventional 30:2 cardiac arrest resuscitation. Few data exist on the effectiveness of a higher CCF on clinical outcomes.
These data suggest that increasing the CCF effectively improves outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest. This is an important finding that is relatively easily implemented and widely generalizable. The optimal level of chest compression fraction defines a practical goal for emergency medical services training and quality improvement. Implementing strategies to improve CCF is likely to result in an increase in survival from cardiac arrest and survival to hospital discharge. The American Heart Association currently recommends minimizing the frequency and duration of interruptions in chest compressions to maximize the number of compressions delivered per minute.
What are the benefits of chest compression fraction?
CCF is an important measure of heart function and can be used to help diagnose and treat heart conditions. CCF is often used in conjunction with other measures of heart function, such as ejection fraction, to assess the heart's overall health. In addition, it may be used to help assess the risk of heart conditions and to guide treatment decisions. It is crucial because it determines the chances of survival in patients with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation.
How can chest compression fraction be measured?
The Chest Compression Fracture is measured by dividing the duration of compression by the total time of cardiac arrest observed. To better resuscitation outcomes, compression pauses for ventilation should be as short as possible. High-performing Emergency Medical systems target at least 60%, with 80% or higher being a frequent goal.

It may be reasonable to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with a chest compression fraction of at least 60% in adult and child cardiac arrest. It is reasonable to pause chest compressions for 10 seconds to deliver two rescue breaths.
The chest compression fraction values for all minute intervals were averaged for each patient. Trained research staff reviewed the automated calculation of chest compression fraction at each site before entering chest compression fraction values.

What are the techniques for chest compression fraction?
Chest compressions techniques include the following:
- Positioning the patient supine
- Pushing hard and fast over the center of the victim's chest
- A high quality CPR compression rate of at least 100 compressions per minute
- Rescuers should minimize any interruptions to achieve a CCF of 60.
- Aggressive rotation of compressors prevents the decline of chest compression quality due to fatigue.
- Chest compressions are terminated following the return of spontaneous circulation.
- Unconscious victims with normal breathing are placed in the recovery position.
- If there is no return of spontaneous circulation, the decision to terminate the resuscitation is based on the clinical judgment that the patient's cardiac arrest is unresponsive to the treatment.
What are the guidelines for chest compression fraction?
According to the American Heart Association guideline and adult Basic Life Support recommendations, chest compressions during High-quality CPR should be performed at 100 - 120 per minute, with a Chest Compression fraction of ≥80%. Compression depth of 2-2.4 inches in adults and at least 1/3 the AP dimension of the chest in infants and children.

High-quality CPR performance metrics include:
- Chest compression fraction >80%
- Compression rate of 100-120/min
- Compression depth of at least 2-2.4 inches in adults and at least 1/3 the AP dimension of the chest in children and infants
- Avoid excessive ventilation
What affects chest compression fraction?
There are a number of factors that can affect chest compression fraction, including the skill and strength of the person performing CPR, the size of the patient, and any medical conditions they may have. The larger the patient is, the more difficult it becomes to achieve adequate chest compressions to achieve an effective CCF. If a patient has a medical condition such as obesity or coronary artery disease, this can also make chest compressions more difficult, decreasing the CCF. Additionally, if the person performing CPR is not adequately trained or experienced in CPR techniques, this can lead to an inadequate CCF.
How do interruptions in chest compressions negatively impact?
Interruptions in chest compressions can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of CPR. When chest compressions are interrupted, the heart does not receive the same level of blood flow as when it is continuously compressed, reducing its ability to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body effectively. This can lead to decreased survival rates for those in cardiac arrest and increased chances of complications for those who do survive. Additionally, interruptions in chest compressions can lead to increased fatigue for the person performing CPR and decreased motivation to continue.
What can be done to improve chest compression fraction during CPR?
There are a few ways that healthcare providers can improve the chest compression fraction (CCF) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). First, it is important for healthcare providers to ensure that they are properly trained in CPR techniques. Additionally, it is important to minimize pauses in chest compressions as much as possible and to focus on providing quality chest compressions that are deep and fast. Finally, healthcare providers can use devices such as automated CPR feedback devices to ensure that they are performing adequate chest compressions.
What are the potential consequences of having a low chest compression fraction during CPR?
If the chest compression fraction (CCF) is too low during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), it can lead to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain and heart, which can be potentially life-threatening. Additionally, a low CCF can reduce the chances of successful defibrillation. If the CCF is below 50%, it is considered to be dangerously low and can lead to an increased risk of death or permanent neurological damage.
What are the factors that can affect chest compression fraction during resuscitation efforts?
There are a number of factors that can affect chest compression fraction during resuscitation efforts, including the skill and strength of the person performing CPR, the size of the patient, and any medical conditions they may have. The larger the patient is, the more difficult it becomes to achieve adequate chest compressions to achieve an effective CCF. If a patient has a medical condition such as obesity or coronary artery disease, they may have reduced circulation and the CCF can be further reduced. Additionally, fatigue can affect the quality of chest compressions, leading to a lower CCF.
What are the potential consequences of inadequate chest compression fraction during CPR?
Inadequate chest compression fraction during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can have serious consequences. If the CCF is too low, it can lead to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain and heart, which can be potentially life-threatening. Additionally, a low CCF can reduce the chances of successful defibrillation and increase the risk of death or permanent neurological damage. It is important to ensure that chest compressions are performed at the optimal rate and depth in order to achieve an adequate CCF.
What are the contraindications for chest compression fraction?
A DNR or valid Do Not Resuscitate order prohibiting chest compressions is a contra-indication. The attending physician considers DNR orders based on patient autonomy and treatment futility. Guidelines of treatment futility dictate that healthcare providers are not obliged to provide treatment if this is futile. Therefore a "Do Not Resuscitate" order prohibiting chest compressions should be documented if chest compressions would be unlikely to save the victim's life.
However, few criteria can reliably predict the futility of starting chest compressions. If there is any uncertainty regarding the "Do Not Resuscitate" status, the rescuer should start chest compressions immediately while the uncertainties are addressed. Compressions may be stopped after a valid DNR order is produced.
Another contraindication of chest compression is when patients with implantable left ventricular assist devices, adult patients with total artificial hearts, or biventricular assist devices suffer cardiac arrest from device failure. If available, the patient must be resuscitated using a backup pump rather than chest compressions.
What are the complications of chest compression fraction?
Life-threatening complications due to CCF are infrequent and occur less frequently than 1%. If hypotension is noted following ROSC, then cardiogenic shock and chest injuries are the most important complications that you should consider. Chest injuries related to chest compressions were classified as rib fracture, sternal fracture, and other uncommon complications, such as:
- Lung contusion
- Lung hemorrhage
- Pneumothorax
- Haemothorax
- Retrosternal hematoma
- Mediastinal hematoma
Rib fractures are the most frequent complication of chest compressions, with an incidence of 1/3 at autopsy. However, only 2% of non-arrest patients who received bystander CPR noted rib fractures.
What techniques or interventions can be used to improve chest compression fraction during CPR?
There are a variety of techniques and interventions that can be used to improve chest compression fraction during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Healthcare providers should ensure that they are properly trained in CPR techniques and that they understand the importance of minimizing pauses in chest compressions. Additionally, healthcare providers should focus on providing quality chest compressions that are deep and fast. Automated CPR feedback devices can also be used to ensure that healthcare providers are performing adequate chest compressions.
How can healthcare providers and emergency responders monitor chest compression fraction in real-time during resuscitation efforts?
Healthcare providers and emergency responders can monitor chest compression fraction in real-time during resuscitation efforts using automated CPR feedback devices. These devices measure the depth and rate of chest compressions, as well as the pauses between them, to provide an accurate assessment of CCF. The feedback device will alert healthcare providers when the CCF is too low, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal chest compressions.
What strategies can healthcare providers use to ensure that chest compression fraction remains adequate during CPR?
Healthcare providers can employ a variety of strategies to ensure that chest compression fraction remains adequate during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). First, healthcare providers should ensure that they are properly trained in CPR techniques and understand the importance of minimizing pauses in chest compressions. Additionally, healthcare providers should focus on providing quality chest compressions that are deep and fast. Automated CPR feedback devices can also be used to ensure that healthcare providers are performing adequate chest compressions. Finally, healthcare providers should take frequent breaks to reduce fatigue and maintain a consistent rate of chest compressions.
What other factors might influence chest compression fraction during CPR?
In addition to the techniques and strategies discussed above, there are a variety of other factors that can influence chest compression fraction during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The presence of CPR barriers such as thoracic trauma or obesity can limit the depth and rate of compressions, thereby decreasing CCF. Additionally, patient size, chest wall compliance, and the quality of CPR equipment may also influence CCF. Finally, the presence of bystanders during CPR can contribute to fatigue and reduced performance from the healthcare provider, resulting in a lower CCF.
What role do healthcare providers have in improving chest compression fraction during CPR?
Healthcare providers play a critical role in ensuring that chest compression fraction (CCF) remains adequate during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Healthcare providers should ensure that they are properly trained in CPR techniques and understand the importance of minimizing pauses in chest compressions. Additionally, healthcare providers should focus on providing quality chest compressions that are deep and fast.
What is the relationship between chest compression fraction and survival outcomes in patients who undergo resuscitation efforts?
The chest compression fraction (CCF) is an important indicator of the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Studies have shown that higher CCFs are associated with improved survival outcomes in patients who undergo resuscitation efforts. Specifically, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that for every one percent increase in CCF, there was an associated three percent increase in survival. Thus, healthcare providers should focus on ensuring that CCF remains adequate during CPR in order to maximize patient outcomes.
How do variations in chest compression technique, such as compression depth and rate, impact chest compression fraction during CPR?
Variations in chest compression technique, such as compression depth and rate, can significantly impact chest compression fraction during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Studies have shown that deeper chest compressions with a higher rate of compressions are associated with increased CCF. Conversely, shallow or slow compressions can reduce CCF. Additionally, the presence of pauses during CPR can also lead to a decrease in CCF. Thus, healthcare providers should ensure that they are properly trained in CPR techniques and focus on providing quality chest compressions that are deep and fast in order to maximize CCF.
What is the role of feedback devices and technology in optimizing chest compression fraction during resuscitation efforts?
Feedback devices and technology can play an important role in optimizing chest compression fraction (CCF) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Automated CPR feedback devices are designed to assist healthcare providers in delivering high quality chest compressions with minimal interruptions. These devices measure the depth, rate, and duration of each chest compression and provide real-time feedback to the healthcare provider.
