Who are suitable and unsuitable for cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a first aid technique performed on people suffering from cardiac arrest. If the patient's heart and breathing have stopped and there are no clear signs of death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be used to save the patient. However, not everyone is suitable for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For example, patients with chest trauma, central nervous system diseases, cardiac tamponade, and terminal diseases are not suitable for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

1. Who is suitable for cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

The indication for cardiopulmonary resuscitation is cardiac and respiratory arrest. For non-professionals, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be started as long as someone is found to be unconscious (no response to calls, no spontaneous movements) and not breathing.

However, if some injured or patients already have clear signs of death when they are found, such as rigor mortis, no further rescue is required.

2. CPR is not suitable for patients with chest trauma

In the event of a car accident or fall, chest compressions are not suitable due to the presence of lung contusions, lacerations, and open wounds, which may cause severe bleeding, tension pneumothorax, or infection.

3. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not suitable for patients with central nervous system diseases

If the patient (injured person) is suspected of having cerebral hemorrhage or acute craniocerebral injury, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be performed. The method of judgment is to observe the reaction of the patient's (injured person's) pupils. When the pupils contract when they see light, it means that there is enough oxygen in the blood and it can flow into the brain. If the pupils have no reaction when they see light and are still dilated, it means that there is serious brain damage and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be terminated immediately.

4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not suitable for patients with cardiac tamponade

Common causes include heart rupture caused by myocardial infarction, rupture of the root of aortic dissection causing a large amount of blood to flow into the pericardium, etc. This group of people usually have a history of illness and quickly go into shock when the disease occurs. Chest compressions can cause further bleeding and can be fatal.

5. CPR is not suitable for patients with terminal illnesses such as advanced cancer

If it is clear that the patient has irreversible organ failure such as heart, brain or lung, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not necessary. In addition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not recommended for patients with a history of emphysema or chest deformity, as it may cause lung rupture and secondary injury.