IMR Press / RCM / Volume 24 / Issue 7 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2407191
Open Access Systematic Review
Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of the Thumper Device for Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
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1 International Nursing School of Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
2 Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
3 Research Unit of Island Emergency Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
4 The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
5 Department of Physical Education Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
6 Faculty of Physical Education, Yan’an University, 716000 Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
*Correspondence: zhanghuashelley@hotmail.com (Hua Zhang); 1490560829@qq.com (Jiameng Wang)
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2023, 24(7), 191; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2407191
Submitted: 21 October 2022 | Revised: 16 December 2022 | Accepted: 16 January 2023 | Published: 3 July 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a major rescue measure for cardiac arrest (CA) patients, and chest compression is the key to CPR. The Thumper device was designed to facilitate manual compression during CPR. However, current randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide controversial findings on the efficacy of the Thumper device. Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical benefits of using the Thumper device with manual chest compressions during the provision of CPR for patients in CA. Methods: Relevant studies were retrieved from various databases, including Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CNKI, and by manually searching the reference lists of research and review articles. All RCTs published in either English or Chinese until June 31, 2020, were included in the meta-analysis. The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival rate (SR), and the incidence of rib fractures (RFs) were compared between the manual and Thumper chest compressions. Results: A total of 2164 records were identified, of which 16 were RCTs with an overall risk of bias ranging from low to medium classification. Following CPR, the odds ratios for ROSC, SR, and RF were significantly better for the Thumper chest compression with ORs of 2.56 (95% CI 2.11–3.11, I2 = 0%), 4.06 (95% CI 2.77–5.93, I2 = 0%), and 0.24 (95% CI 0.14–0.41, I2 = 0%), respectively. Conclusions: The Thumper compression devices may improve patient outcome, when used at inhospital cardiac arrest. This review suggests a potential role for mechanical chest compression devices for in-hospital cardiac arrest, but there is an urgent need for high-quality research, particularly adequately powered randomised trials, to further examine this role.

Keywords
cardiac arrest
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
thumper
manual chest compression
meta-analysis
emergency care
Funding
822MS071/Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation
2019-I2M-5-023/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences
KLET-202105/Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma (Hainan Medical University), Ministry of Education
2021QN16/Youth Program of Naval Medical University Basic Medical Fund
ZDKJ202004/Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Major Project
ZDKJ2021038/Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Major Project
HNSK(QN)22-84/2022 Hainan Province Philosophy and Social Science Planning project
Figures
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