Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Practice 2025 - Free CPR Practice Questions and Study Tips.

The recommended technique for open chest CPR is a thoracotomy, specifically in the right lateral recumbency position. This approach is used in critical situations, particularly in emergency medicine or surgical settings when conventional CPR has failed to restore circulation and there is a need for direct access to the heart.

In this position, the patient is placed on their right side, allowing the medical team to perform a left-sided thoracotomy. This surgical procedure involves making an incision in the chest wall, which provides direct access to the heart and allows for effective measures to be taken, such as relieving cardiac tamponade, controlling bleeding, or performing direct cardiac compressions.

This technique is crucial in cases of trauma or other emergency conditions where rapid and effective intervention might save a patient's life. The other methods, while they may have their uses in different contexts, do not provide the same level of access to the heart or increase the chances of resuscitation in severe cases where thoracotomy is indicated.