What are common pitfalls that reduce pediatric CPR effectiveness?

• A. Prolonged interruptions, shallow compressions, delayed defibrillation, and excessive ventilation.
• B. Rapid, deep compressions with adequate pauses.
• C. Defibrillation too early.
• D. Lack of alarms during CPR.

Answer: (A)

Maintaining high-quality chest compressions is what truly drives pediatric CPR success, and several common mistakes erode that perfusion. Prolonged interruptions interrupt the forward flow of blood, which quickly lowers coronary and brain perfusion pressures and makes return of spontaneous circulation harder to achieve. Shallow compressions generate less forward blood flow, so the heart isn’t effectively delivering oxygen to vital organs. If defibrillation is indicated but delayed, the chance of restoring a normal rhythm drops significantly and outcomes worsen. Ventilations that are excessive increase intrathoracic pressure, which reduces venous return to the heart and interrupts chest compressions, while also causing gastric distension; this further lowers the effectiveness of CPR and can impair circulation.

In contrast, actions like performing rapid, deep compressions with minimal pauses, delivering defibrillation promptly when a shockable rhythm is present, and avoiding excessive ventilation would all support better CPR performance, not diminish it.