CPR? NG? I've seen a few articles about this lately. The physician Sunita Puri reveals that “it is an open secret in medicine that CPR is both brutal and rarely effective.” Why does...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've seen a few articles about this lately.

The physician Sunita Puri reveals that “it is an open secret in medicine that CPR is both brutal and rarely effective.” Why does the procedure remain so ubiquitous?

https://www.google.com/search?q=cpr+is+ineffective&oq=cpr+is+ineffective&aqs=edge..69i57j0i22i30j0i390i650l4j69i64.6039j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I'd heard this from an EMT friend, too. However, as the article states, CPR fails or creates greater problems in patients who lose a heartbeat due to conditions like advanced cancer, heart disease and neurological afflictions. If someone in otherwise good condition goes into cardiac arrest, like athletes, it could save their lives. I became CPR certified many years ago and I don't know if I'd do more harm than good if someone goes into arrest and keels over in front of me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fourlocks wrote:

I'd heard this from an EMT friend, too. However, as the article states, CPR fails or creates greater problems in patients who lose a heartbeat due to conditions like advanced cancer, heart disease and neurological afflictions. If someone in otherwise good condition goes into cardiac arrest, like athletes, it could save their lives. I became CPR certified many years ago and I don't know if I'd do more harm than good if someone goes into arrest and keels over in front of me.

I've taken several CPR courses, and the instructors said that it seldom works. Kind of ironic.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

In a moment of crisis, I doubt the person flatlining would care if getting CPR didn't work compared to caring if someone was trying to help keep them alive.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Knowing that CPR sometimes works, I think I would have a hard time with my conscience if I did not try every tool available to save a life. I also think that someone that was saved would be extremely grateful regardless of the condition of their ribs.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

If a person is in cardiac arrest nothing you do can cause harm, the person is already dead. Success rate of a full recovery is 10.6% according to a study reported by Reuters Health in 2018

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Curmudgeon wrote:

If a person is in cardiac arrest nothing you do can cause harm, the person is already dead. Success rate of a full recovery is 10.6% according to a study reported by Reuters Health in 2018

rrozema Loc: Sacramento, California

In the hospital setting when the response time is short it frequently can saves lives and patients can make complete recovery

ad8rr Loc: Jackson, Michigan

I have been a Registered Nurse for 49 years, and was a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps 10 years prior to that. Over the course of those years I have performed CPR many hundreds of times in the Emergency Room, ICU, medical floors, and in the field. I have been rewarded by the gratefulness of those who were revived and by their loved ones. While it is true that only a very small percentage of cardiac arrest victims survive, even one life saved would be worth all of the training and effort over all those years. Life is precious. Some of those who were successfully revived were not ready to face God in the final judgement, and were given a second chance. For the last 30 years of my nursing practice, I have been an Ordained Minister of The Gospel and Pastored small Churches while working as a nurse. I have been blessed to see CPR survivors and their families come to saving faith in the Messiah. CPR may not be effective very often, but just once is enough for me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

pdsdville wrote:

Knowing that CPR sometimes works, I think I would have a hard time with my conscience if I did not try every tool available to save a life. I also think that someone that was saved would be extremely grateful regardless of the condition of their ribs.

Yeah, that's the problem. Let someone die in peace or add some major pain to the experience?

If the person's heart isn't beating, will he experience pain?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ad8rr wrote:

CPR may not be effective very often, but just once is enough for me.

rrozema Loc: Sacramento, California

They are unconscious and do not experience pain.
PS for patients with a terminal illness and vey poor quality of life then it may very appropriate to not do CPR

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Ah, but that 10.6 % makes it worth it!

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

ad8rr wrote:

I have been a Registered Nurse for 49 years, and ... (show quote)

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

As an advanced E.M.T. I have worked 4 different people. Of those, 3 stayed DEAD, but 1 lived for 7 years after having CPR done for more than 1/2 hr. Yes we broke ribs but he was more than happy with the results, and so was his wife.