What is the ideal chest compression fraction (CCF) during CPR?

The ideal chest compression fraction (CCF) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is at least 80%. This measure refers to the proportion of time spent delivering chest compressions during the resuscitation effort, as opposed to pauses for other interventions like ventilation or rhythm checks.

Having a CCF of at least 80% is crucial because it maximizes the amount of time blood is circulated to vital organs, thereby increasing the chances of survival and good neurological outcomes for the patient experiencing cardiac arrest. Research has demonstrated that higher CCF values are associated with improved survival rates and neurological function post-arrest, highlighting the importance of continuous and effective chest compressions with minimal interruptions.

In contrast, values lower than 80% suggest more frequent interruptions, which can compromise coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, reducing the effectiveness of CPR. Thus, aiming for a CCF of 80% or higher is a key goal in advanced cardiac life support protocols to optimize the resuscitative efforts.