Relation of infant heart to sternum: its significance in cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Lancet. 1986 May 3;1(8488):1024-5. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)91284-5.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Heart / anatomy & histology*
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Radiography
  • Resuscitation / methods*
  • Sternum / anatomy & histology*
  • Sternum / diagnostic imaging