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| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
CPR - adult |
| Definition: |
| CPR is a combination of rescue breathing, which provides oxygen to the victim's lungs, and chest compressions, which keep oxygenated blood circulating. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - adult; Rescue breathing and chest compressions - adult; Resuscitation - cardiopulmonary - adult
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| Considerations: |
| CPR can be lifesaving, but it is best performed by those who have been trained in an accredited CPR course. The procedures described here are not a substitute for CPR training. Time is very important when dealing with an unconscious person who is not breathing. Permanent brain damage begins after only 4 minutes without oxygen, and death can occur in as little as 4 to 6 minutes later. |
| Causes: |
Cardio-pulmonary arrest is a combination of two life-threatening conditions: absence of breathing and lack of an effective heartbeat. Major causes of cardio-pulmonary arrest in adults include: heart disease, trauma, excessive bleeding, drug overdose, and sepsis. |
Reviewed By: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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