Royal Surrey research could improve CPR effectiveness

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is set to present new research that could significantly impact cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practices among healthcare professionals.

The study highlights how rotating clinicians performing chest compressions more frequently than current guidance suggests might improve the quality of CPR during cardiac arrest.

The research involved 100 healthcare professionals across various clinical specialties.

It examined whether they could consistently deliver high-quality chest compressions over the current two-minute interval before swapping.

While the participants maintained a compression rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, most faced challenges maintaining optimal compression quality for the full two minutes due to fatigue.

These findings indicate that more frequent rotations could help reduce fatigue and maintain compression quality throughout resuscitation.

Age was found to influence endurance, with clinicians over 45 experiencing more significant declines in compression depth and endurance, whereas younger participants generally maintained effective chest compressions for longer periods.

The study will be showcased at the European Resuscitation Council Congress - Resuscitation 2026 in Milan from 17th to 19th September.

Tina Johnson and Keith Chaplin, Senior Resuscitation Officers at Royal Surrey, will represent the team.

Bill Pasquier, Resuscitation Service Manager at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The findings have great potential to shape future discussions on CPR practice in a healthcare setting and how we can support resuscitation teams to deliver consistently effective chest compressions while reducing fatigue."