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Risks of CPR (lemmy.world)

If proper CPR involves compressing the chest so much such that the ribcage might break - doesnt that breakage risks a bone puncturing the heart?

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[-] Dazza@lemmy.world 49 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

If you’re doing chest compressions to save someone who has stopped breathing there roughly a 10% chance they will survive but a 0% chance if you don’t So it’s often worth it anyway.

However it does keep the blood flowing and can prevent brain damage until a defibrillator is available which has a much higher chance of saving someone who has stopped breathing.

The heart is also protected by the lungs and breast plate.

[-] ABCDE@lemmy.world 21 points 11 months ago

Doesn't the defib stabilise the heartbeat rather than getting it going again?

[-] Dazza@lemmy.world 20 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Yes if the heart has flatlined completely then it won’t be started again by AED. But if they are in cardiac arrest then the heart rate is erratic and doesn’t function normally but can be returned to normal with a defibrillator.

[-] Labonnie@feddit.de 6 points 11 months ago

Someone can be in cardiac arrest and have an asystoly or PEA. In fact, whenever someone has an asystoly or PEA they are in cardiac arrest.

[-] notapantsday@feddit.de 4 points 11 months ago

Yes, a heart that has completely stopped beating cannot be restarted by defibrillation. It only works in a condition called ventricular fibrillation, when the muscle fibers of the heart are still contracting, but are no longer "in sync". This causes the heart to twitch chaotically, which is not an effective way to pump blood. And without blood pumping, the heart itself does not receive any oxygen as well, so it will eventually go into a complete flatline after a few minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation.

The electric shock helps the fibers resynchronize. If you want to see the effect directly, here's a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCbawp9ZSnY

Be warned, it shows an open chest and an exposed heart, most likely during heart surgery. They are using spoon-shaped internal defibrillation paddles. In the beginning, you can see the heart in ventricular fibrillation. It's twitching chaotically and not pumping any blood. After defibrillation, it starts contracting rhythmically again.

this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2023
90 points (95.9% liked)

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