Question

What is the correct technique for performing left uterine displacement (LUD) for a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest whose fundus is at or above the umbilicus?

Position yourself at the patient's feet. Place both hands underneath the uterus and push the uterus to the left and up.
Position yourself on the patient's left side. Reach across the patient, place both hands on the right side of the uterus and pull the uterus to the left and up.
Position yourself at the patient's head. Reach down and over the patient, place both hands to each side of the uterus, and pull the uterus to the left and up.
Position yourself at the patient's feet. Reach up and over the patient, place both hands on the fundus and pull the uterus to the left and down.

Answer 1

The correct technique for left uterine displacement in a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest is by positioning yourself on the patient's left side, reaching across, and pulling the uterus to the left and up.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct technique for performing left uterine displacement (LUD) for a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest whose fundus is at or above the umbilicus is by positioning yourself on the patient's left side. Then, reach across the patient, place both hands on the right side of the uterus, and gently pull the uterus to the left and up. This technique is crucial for alleviating aortocaval compression by the gravid uterus, which can impair venous return and thus cardiac output during resuscitation efforts.

It is important to remember that this maneuver is applied in conjunction with the standard protocols for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which involves compressing the chest with sufficient depth and at the correct rate to maintain blood circulation, especially to essential organs like the brain. The focus on high-quality chest compressions over artificial respiration is based on current CPR guidelines.