Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 327, Issue 8488, 3 May 1986, Pages 1024-1025
The Lancet

RELATION OF INFANT HEART TO STERNUM: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(86)91284-5Get rights and content

Abstract

In a radiographic study of 55 infants with an age-range of 27 weeks' gestation to 13 months post-term, the centre of the heart was positioned under the lower third of the sternum in 48 cases. In 4 infants the position was slightly more cephalad, but still below the lower half of the sternum. In 3 infants, the position was below the xiphisternal junction. Present guidelines for infant resuscitation should be revised in view of these findings.

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