Sarver Center director touts new resuscitation method
By: Matt Lewis
Issue date: 8/6/07 Section: News
Cardiac arrest victims need not hold their breath any longer, as a new technique for resuscitation has emerged.
Dr. Gordon Ewy, director of the UA's Sarver Heart Center, and a CPR research group have pioneered a new type of CPR known as cardio-cerebral resuscitation.
CCR is meant to treat cardiac arrest victims. Cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly ceases to function. A victim will show signs of unconsciousness, stop breathing normally and lose pulse and blood pressure. Within minutes of these symptoms, a person can die.
CCR involves 100 forceful chest compressions per minute with no mouth to mouth.
"It is simpler in that we have eliminated the mouth-to-mouth breathing step. What counts are seconds and minutes. The goal is to get the blood circulating," said Karl B. Kern, professor of medicine at the College of Medicine and director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at University Medical Center.
It is suggested that bystanders work in teams to complete the 100 compressions, said Lani Clark, director of research and
quality improvement for ADHS Bureau of EMS at the Sarver Heart Center.
"Compressions, for them to be effective, have to be fast and forceful. People tend to do them too slowly," Clark said. "Most lay people can't do 100 compressions in a minute so we suggest that people do team compressions."
Ewy said in the July 23 issue of Newsweek that it was not necessary to supply the lungs with additional oxygen, adding that it is necessary to get blood flowing to the heart and brain. He explained that it can be accomplished through chest compressions alone.
"A person has oxygen in their lungs, blood and airways. The important thing to do is to circulate the blood. That is the purpose of chest compressions," Clark said.
Researchers at Sarver have separated CCR into protocol for paramedics and bystanders.
"The layperson's (protocol) is very simple - call 911 and start chest compression," Clark said. "The purpose is to keep the person viable until the paramedics get there. The new paramedic protocol emphasizes continued chest compressions."
Dr. Gordon Ewy, director of the UA's Sarver Heart Center, and a CPR research group have pioneered a new type of CPR known as cardio-cerebral resuscitation.
CCR is meant to treat cardiac arrest victims. Cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly ceases to function. A victim will show signs of unconsciousness, stop breathing normally and lose pulse and blood pressure. Within minutes of these symptoms, a person can die.
CCR involves 100 forceful chest compressions per minute with no mouth to mouth.
"It is simpler in that we have eliminated the mouth-to-mouth breathing step. What counts are seconds and minutes. The goal is to get the blood circulating," said Karl B. Kern, professor of medicine at the College of Medicine and director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at University Medical Center.
It is suggested that bystanders work in teams to complete the 100 compressions, said Lani Clark, director of research and
quality improvement for ADHS Bureau of EMS at the Sarver Heart Center.
"Compressions, for them to be effective, have to be fast and forceful. People tend to do them too slowly," Clark said. "Most lay people can't do 100 compressions in a minute so we suggest that people do team compressions."
Ewy said in the July 23 issue of Newsweek that it was not necessary to supply the lungs with additional oxygen, adding that it is necessary to get blood flowing to the heart and brain. He explained that it can be accomplished through chest compressions alone.
"A person has oxygen in their lungs, blood and airways. The important thing to do is to circulate the blood. That is the purpose of chest compressions," Clark said.
Researchers at Sarver have separated CCR into protocol for paramedics and bystanders.
"The layperson's (protocol) is very simple - call 911 and start chest compression," Clark said. "The purpose is to keep the person viable until the paramedics get there. The new paramedic protocol emphasizes continued chest compressions."
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