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Algorithm of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a set of medical procedures and manipulations designed to restore blood circulation and breathing to a person who has had a cardiac and respiratory arrest. Cardiac arrest can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as cardiac problems, asphyxiation, trauma, or other factors.
The purpose of CPR is to provide oxygen to the brain and other important organs and tissues of the body when the organs stop receiving blood and oxygen due to cardiac arrest. CPR can be performed by professional medical personnel, but it can also be performed by ordinary people trained in the procedure until an ambulance arrives.
The basic steps of CPR include:
Heart massage
Cardiac massage (chest compressions) is an important part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and is performed when the victim's heart stops or there is no pulse. It is a medical procedure that can save a life when a person is in critical danger. Here are the basic steps for performing cardiac massage as part of CPR:
- Assess the situation: Before starting cardiac massage, make sure the area is safe for you and the victim, and ask those around you to call for emergency medical help if it is not.
- Positioning the casualty: Place the casualty on a hard surface (e.g., floor or pole) to facilitate cardiac massage. Make sure his back is flat.
- Hands for compression: Stand next to the victim. Place one palm on the middle of the sternum, approximately at the level between the nipples. Place the other hand on top of the first so that they are parallel to each other. The fingers should not touch the sternum.
- Chest compressions: With your upper body tilted slightly forward, use your weight to press on the casualty's sternum to a depth of about 5-6 cm (2-2.5 inches). The rate of compressions should be about 100-120 per minute. After each compression, allow the sternum to fully rise to its original position, but do not release your hands from the sternum.
- Artificial respiration (optional): After performing 30 chest compressions, you may perform 2 breaths of CPR. Then continue cardiac massage with compressions only.
- ContinuedCPR: Continue performing cardiac massage until the ambulance arrives or until the victim begins to show signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
Remember that cardiac massage is a fairly intense procedure and it is important to follow the guidelines and training to perform it correctly. The sooner CPR is started after cardiac arrest, the better the chances of saving the victim's life.
Artificial ventilation
Artificial ventilation (AV) as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the procedure of breathing air into the victim's lungs to provide oxygen to the body. CPR is an important part of CPR because when the heart and breathing stop, the person stops breathing on their own.
Here are the steps for performing artificial ventilation as part of CPR:
- Prepare for CPR: Make sure the casualty is on a hard surface. Raise the casualty's head to open the airway.
- Check the airway: Inspect the casualty's mouth and throat for visible obstructions such as food or other objects. Remove them if present.
- Open the airway: Lift the victim's head, place one hand on the forehead, and use two fingers of the other hand to lift the chin up. This will open the airway and prevent obstruction.
- Ventilate: Proceed to artificial ventilation. Breathe into the casualty, making sure you have good contact with the casualty's mouth and nose. Breathe in for about 1 second, long enough to lift the casualty's chest and allow air to enter the lungs.
- Allow exhalation: Allow the casualty to exhale and then repeat ventilation. It is normally recommended to give 2 breaths after every 30 chest compressions during cardiac massage.
- Observe thechest: Carefully observe the rise and fall of the casualty's chest during ventilation. Make sure the chest rises with each breath.
- Follow instructions and recommendations: Always follow the instructions and recommendations of your health care team.
It is important to remember that ventilations are performed in combination with cardiac massage according to recommendations and proportions of 30:2. The rate and depth of ventilation may vary depending on specific recommendations and circumstances. Following the correct technique of ventilatory support can be a vital skill in the first aid management of cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Defibrillation
Defibrillation is one of the key procedures in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and is used to restore normal heart rhythm in the event of ventricular fibrillation or chamber tachycardia that may result from cardiac arrest. Defibrillation is performed using a specialized medical device called a defibrillator.
This is how defibrillation occurs during CPR:
- Preparing for defibrillation: First make sure the environment is safe for everyone, including the rescuer and the victim. The physician or trained rescuer then applies the defibrillator electrodes to the chest according to specific instructions.
- Heart Rhythm Analysis: The defibrillator analyzes the patient's heart rhythm to determine if defibrillation is needed. If the defibrillator detects a life-threatening rhythm, it is prepared for discharge.
- Discharge(shock): If the defibrillator detects ventricular fibrillation or chamber tachycardia, it issues a command to discharge. The discharge creates a short electrical pulse voltage that resets the electrical activity of the heart in hopes of returning it to a normal rhythm.
- Response Evaluation: After the discharge, the rescuer or medical personnel will evaluate the patient's response. If the heart has not returned to a normal rhythm, another discharge may be necessary.
- Continued resuscitation: If defibrillation does not restore normal heart rhythm, resuscitation continues with cardiac massage and artificial ventilation.
It is important to note that defibrillation is only effective for certain cardiac rhythm disturbances and should be skillfully and appropriately coordinated by medical personnel or trained rescuers. In the case of cardiac arrest, rapid defibrillation and CPR can significantly improve the chances of patient survival.
CPR is a critical procedure that can save a victim's life. It is important to know the correct order and technique for performing CPR, and to call an ambulance immediately. Basic CPR training and regular practice can be vital skills because the sooner CPR is started, the better the chances of successfully restoring cardiac and respiratory function.
The following is a general algorithm for CPR as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA). It is important to remember that CPR should be performed by experienced professionals or trained individuals, and caution is important.
Algorithm of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Check for safety: Check your own safety before approaching the casualty. Make sure the environment is safe for CPR.
- Check the answer: Approach the injured person and shake them by the shoulder while asking loudly: "Are you okay?" Observe the response. If the casualty does not respond and is not breathing normally, consider cardiac and respiratory arrest.
- Call an ambulance: Ask someone to call an ambulance, giving the address and describing the situation. If you are alone, start CPR first and then call for help after the first cycles of CPR.
- Check for a pulse in the neck: Try to find a pulse in the neck (carotid artery) for no more than 10 seconds. If no pulse is palpated or the pulsation is not pronounced enough, consider cardiac arrest.
- Start cardiac massage: If you have on scene, wear gloves if possible. Place the patient on a hard surface on his or her back.
- Exhibit the correct hand and arm position: Place the palm of one hand on the middle of your sternum, approximately at nipple level. With your other hand, place the palm of your other hand on top of your first hand. The position of your hands is important to give an effective heart massage.
- Start the massage: Press the chest to a depth of about 5-6 cm at a frequency of 100-120 times per minute. Aim to fully straighten the chest after each pressing.
- Respiratory Ventilation: After 30 chest compressions, give 2 breaths inward to the casualty. Close the casualty's nose and draw breaths into the casualty's mouth. Make sure the casualty's chest rises with each breath. Continue to mix chest massage and ventilation according to a 30:2 ratio.
- Continue CPR: Continue cycles of cardiac massage and ventilation until medical professionals arrive or cardiac and respiratory function is restored.
- Perform CPR according to recommendations and strength: Remember that performing CPR requires physical endurance. If you are fatigued, change with another trained person to maintain quality resuscitation.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a critical procedure that can save a victim's life. It requires training and practice, so it is recommended that you take certified training courses in basic resuscitation.