What is it about?
CPR is one of the main ways to help someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Usually, patients are unconscious and treatment can proceed without interruptions. Due to ongoing improvements in CPR, however, it's possible to restore blood flow to a level that allows patients to wake up during treatment, even without their heart restarting on its own. Once CPR stops, consciousness is lost again.
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Why is it important?
CPR-induced consciousness (CPR-IC) can interfere with rescue efforts and may lead to psychological trauma in both patients and clinicians. Until recently, there were no agreed-upon guidelines on the best approach to manage this in the out-of-hospital setting. More knowledge is therefore required.
Perspectives
CPR-IC has the potential to be a terrifying and confusing experience for patients, clinicians, and bystanders. It is important to raise awareness and increase knowledge of this growing phenomenon so that rescuers can understand its presentation and management, and patient care is not impacted.
Dr Lucymarie Silvestri
Flinders University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Out-of-hospital care of patients experiencing CPR-induced consciousness, International Paramedic Practice, December 2024, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/ippr.2024.0003.
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