Impact of the Over-the-Head Position with a Supraglottic Airway Device on Chest Compression Depth and Rate: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

There is considerable controversy regarding the optimal airway management strategy in the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Registry-based studies yield contradicting results and the actual impact of using supraglottic devices on survival and neurological outcomes remains unknown. In a recent simulation study, the use of an i-gel(®) device was associated with significantly shallower chest compressions. It was hypothesized that these shallower compressions could be linked to the provision of chest compressions in an over-the-head position, to the cumbersome airway management apparatus, and to a shallower i-gel(®) insertion depth in the manikin. To test this hypothesis, we carried out a post hoc analysis, which is described in this report. Briefly, no association was found between the over-the-head position and compression depth.