[afro-nets] New international consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

New international consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
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This is important info for everybody!
From: Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel@undp.org

A comprehensive, evidence-based review of resuscitation science
by international experts has just been released. While universal
resuscitation guidelines have not been established, researchers
from many countries have furthered the science of resuscitation
and updated resuscitation practices that should be followed. The
consensus statement reflects "the growing recognition that dif-
ferent countries and regions have varied resources and needs."
New European (http://www.erc.edu) and US (http://www.aha.org)
guidelines have been released, and other countries will utilize
the consensus statement to develop their own guidelines.

The major change presented in the consensus statement is in-
creased emphasis on optimal performance of chest compressions.
The recommended rate is now 30 compressions (almost 2 compres-
sions/second) followed by 2 breaths; the previous recommended
rate was 15/2. The new Universal Cardiac Arrest Algorithm is ap-
plicable to cardiac arrest victims of all ages and in most cir-
cumstances.

The most important determinant of survival after sudden cardiac
arrest is the presence of a trained rescuer. While lay rescuers
can play an important role if the public is aware and trained,
unexpected cardiac arrests also occur frequently in hospitals,
where treatment may be delayed beyond the 4-5-minute required
interval and where administered CPR has frequently been found to
not comply with guidelines.

Resuscitation is an effective way of saving lives and it costs
nothing beyond the costs of training personnel and monitoring
adherence to protocols. These however are often not a priority
in medical education or professional development.

This is an opportunity to update our knowledge and revisit the
lifesaving potential of this practice in all settings.

Summary of Universal Cardiac Arrest Algorithm: "Rescuers begin
CPR if the victim is unconscious or unresponsive, not moving,
and not breathing (ignoring occasional gasps). A single compres-
sion-ventilation ratio of 30:2 is used for the single rescuer of
an infant, child, or adult victim (excluding newborns); this ap-
plies for the lay rescuer and for all adult CPR. The theme of
minimal interruption of chest compressions is emphasized
throughout this document; recent evidence indicates that such
interruptions occur frequently both in and out of hospital. In-
terruptions in chest compressions during CPR must be minimized."