Where should I place my hands on the chest of a patient when doing compressions?

[A-non-y-mous]

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Im on my IM rotation and we got a code and went to the ICU...

I dont know the guy's history but he did have a sternal incision and I believe he had just had a CABG performed.

This is my first time doing compressions and I was sort of thrown into the middle of it t relieve a nurse. I had no clue what to do so I just copid what I saw.

He was compressing on the right side of the man's chest...i thought that was weird....unless the guy had situs inversus...SO i just copied what I saw...

So when doing chest compressions? Isn't it on the left?

 

[deleted87716]

The sternum is wired shut, so it's not likely to pop open during compressions no matter where you press. Proper chest compressions are done over the sternum. As a resident, I just threw a folded sheet on the sternum to protect my hands against any wires or jagged bone that might come up through the skin and performed CPR as usual.

 

[buckley]

look for the xiphoid process, then move up two finger breadths above that. Make sure you lock those elbows : )

 

[GOGETA]

If is a guy you can safely place the hand between the two nipples if is a lady go with buckley advise.