Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR)
Definition
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency medical procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest.
CPR is performed in hospitals, or in the community by laypersons or by emergency response professionals.
Components of CPR
For 50 years CPR has consisted of the combination of artificial blood circulation with artificial respiration i.e., chest compressions and lung ventilation.
March 2008 :
The American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council, endorse that chest compressions alone is effective --without artificial respiration--for adult victims who collapse suddenly in cardiac arrest
CPR is generally continued, usually in the presence of advanced life support, until the patient regains a heart beat (called "return of spontaneous circulation" or "ROSC") or is declared dead.
Results
CPR is unlikely to restart the heart
Its purpose is to maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart
Thereby delaying tissue death and brain damage until defibrillation and advanced life support restart the heart.
Used alone, CPR will result in few complete recoveries.
Those that do survive often develop serious complications.
CPR does not "bring anyone back,"
It simply preserves the body for defibrillation and advanced life support.
In the case of "non-shockable" rhythms such as Pulseless Electrical Activity, defibrillation is not indicated, and the importance of CPR rises.
Only 5%-10% survive
Chest compression adjuncts
Timing devices
Metronome (an item carried by many ambulance crews) helps correct rate of compressions. It has timed indicators for pressing on the chest, breathing and changing operators.
Manual assist devices
These devices placed on top of the chest
Rescuer's hands going over the device, and a display giving information on depth or force.
One brand is CPREzy,
Automatic devices
Take over the chest compressions for the rescuer. These devices use techniques such as pneumatics to drive a compressing pad on to the chest of the patient.
Another system called the AutoPulse is electrically powered
Clinical studies show increased successful return of spontaneous circulation.
Method
