What is "cardiopulmonary resuscitation"

cardiopulmonary resuscitation \cardiopulmonary resuscitation\ n. An emergency procedure to revive heart and lung function in persons whose heart has apparently stopped beating, involving forced respiration, periodic pressure on the heart by pushing on the chest, and sometimes electrical or mechanical equipment. It is often referred to by the acronym CPR. [PJC] ||

n. A first aid procedure for cardiac arrest involving compression of the chest wall alternating with artificial respiration.

n. an emergency procedure consisting of external cardiac massage and artificial respiration; the first treatment for a person who has collapsed and has no pulse and has stopped breathing; attempts to restore circulation of the blood and prevent death or brain damage due to lack of oxygen [syn: CPR, cardiac resuscitation, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, kiss of life]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR, is an emergency procedure that combines chest compression often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive with no breathing or abnormal breathing, for example, agonal respirations.

According to the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines, CPR involves chest compressions for adults between and deep and at a rate of at least 100 to 120 per minute. The rescuer may also provide artificial ventilation by either exhaling air into the subject's mouth or nose ( mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) or using a device that pushes air into the subject's lungs ( mechanical ventilation). Current recommendations place emphasis on high-quality chest compressions over artificial ventilation; a simplified CPR method involving chest compressions only is recommended for untrained rescuers. In children only doing compressions may result in worse outcomes.

CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart; Its main purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. The objective is to delay tissue death and to extend the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage. Administration of an electric shock to the subject's heart, termed defibrillation, is usually needed in order to restore a viable or "perfusing" heart rhythm. Defibrillation is effective only for certain heart rhythms, namely ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, rather than asystole or pulseless electrical activity. CPR may succeed in inducing a heart rhythm that may be shockable. In general, CPR is continued until the person has a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or is declared dead.