CPR, which stands for Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a process that uses chest compression and artificial ventilation – by means of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in order to maintain vascular flow and oxygenation despite the presence of cardiac arrest. This process greatly enhances the neurologic outcome or good quality life prognosis of patients who just had cardiac arrest away from the vicinity of a hospital or within significant time-delay prior to the arrival of paramedics.
However, despite improving the chances of these patient’s survival, the fact that adequate medical attention needs to be given cannot be discounted. This is to ensure that the patient’s chances of getting discharged from the hospital without significant neurologic symptoms that may impair good quality life is heightened.
The Process of CPR
The process starts with chest compression delivery. If you have observed from pictures or even from medical TV shows, you will see that cardiopulmonary resuscitation will begin with overlapping hands on top of the patient’s chest over the sternum. It should be emphasized that the arms of the person doing the resuscitation must be extended to ensure that the force for chest compression is adequately delivered with the assistance of some of the rescuer’s weight.
It has been updated that cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be done on all patients whether children or adults and a guidelines or recommendations have been passed for references.
First, the rescuer must only withhold resuscitation if victims of penetrating or blunt trauma will obviously not benefit anything from it. This means that if the victim obviously not survive – given the factors such as the time delay before reaching a medical facility – the victim will not benefit anything from the cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Second, recommended resuscitation should be done in patients who have suffered from cardiac arrest especially when they have not sustained any traumatic injury at the time of incident.
Third, if the victim is a child and has shown signs of life even before the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be taken immediately to the nearest emergency room. All procedures including the traumatic CPR must be done while on the way to the hospital. Any delay of bringing the child could result to the demise of the patient considering the window of survival without oxygen to the brain.
There are still other guidelines that must be followed when it comes to doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The ones mentioned above are just some of it, which you could give more thought and understanding.
What are the instances when cardiopulmonary resuscitation is contraindicated or prohibited?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is indicated or SOP (standard operating procedure) to all victims of cardiac arrest. The only time that it is contraindicated or absolutely prohibited is when there is a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order from the attending physician by virtue of the immediate family’s decision. It is also not done any more if the patient has advanced directive of not being resuscitated upon the occurrence of cardiac arrest. Otherwise, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is absolutely done in order to increase the chances of having good quality life after the cardiac arrest.
