Hands-only CPR saves more lives

According to a study published in JAMA this week, hands-only CPR saves more lives in cardiac arrests.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health problem in the US, in 2005, Arizona launched a programme to encourage the public to use compression-only CPR (COCPR) to improve survival.

The study included 2900 patients who received no bystander CPR, 666 conventional CPR and 849 COCPR. The researchers found that "among patients who received bystander CPR, the proportion with COCPR increased significantly over time, from 19.6% in 2005 to 75.9% in 2009", COPR was associated with a 60% improved odds of survival comapred with no bystander CPR or conventional CPR. The authors said that COPR has the advantage of minimizing interruptions in chest compressions during CPR.

In an accompanying editorial, the author said that the findings should encourage continuing investigations into the compressio-only CPR method. "Healthcare professionals involved in resuscitation should look to new Guidelines 2010 dodcuments for the international consensus on the science of compression-only CPR ........ to encourage the general public to learn this simple and potentially lifesaving skills".

However, a Lancet article published in April 2010 (17;375(9723):1347-54. Epub 2010 Mar 2. )states that "for children who have out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from non-cardiac causes, conventional CPR by bystander is the preferable approach to resuscitation. For arrests of cardiac causes, either conventional or compression-only CPR is similarly effective".

The 2010 Resuscitation guidelines will be available at Resuscitation Council (UK) website on 18 October 2010.

Source : Chest Compression–Only CPR by Lay Rescuers and Survival From Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. JAMA. 2010;304(13):1447-1454. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1392 (f/t via Athens)

Editorial : Compression-Only CPR . JAMA. 2010;304(13):1493-1495. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1420 (f/t via Athens)