Mouth to mouth may harm chances of survival

 research shows Performing mouth to mouth on people whose heart has stopped may actually harm their chances of recovery research has shown.

by Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor

A study carried out in Norway has found that pausing chest compressions in order to carry out the so called rescue breaths reduced the chances of recovery.

There has been growing consensus among the medical community that for people who witness a cardiac arrest if they are concerned about performing mouth to mouth then they should carry out only chest compressions.

The study, published in the journal BioMed Central Medicine, shows that for every second paused during compressions there is a one per cent reduction in the likelihood of success, which was measures as return of circulation.

Lead author Kenneth Gundersen from the University of Stavanger, Norway, said: "We analysed data from 911 interruptions and found that every second without the blood perfusion generated by chest compressions has a negative impact on the estimated probability of return of spontaneous circulation."

The American Heart Association's first aid guidelines were updated last year, suggesting that the 'mouth-to-mouth' component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was unnecessary. This new research supports that position, in that the pause in compressions required to perform artificial respiration may reduce the patient's chances of recovering their heartbeat.

Mr Gundersen said, "The first priority when witnessing a cardiac arrest is to make an emergency call. Beyond this our results show that performing powerful chest compressions with minimal interruptions is of utmost importance. The quality of CPR matters and everyone should practice their CPR skills at regular intervals."

Joey Nolan, chairman of the Resusciation Council UK said the analysis was of intervals before electric shocks were delivered in attempts to restart the heart by trained professionals so does not relate directly to CPR performed by bystanders.

But he added: "It emphasises that we need to minimise the time when we are not compressing the chest and adds to other evidence that this is beneficial. It does not tell us for sure if we should stop doing mouth or not."

He said an international conference in February next year will debate whether there should be worldwide consensus to drop the ventilation breaths as part of CPR training.

The Resusciation Council UK has not changed its guidelines and its current advice is: "Bystanders who have been trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) and who witness a sudden collapse in an adult should immediately initiate rescue actions by providing 30 chest compressions of adequate force and depth at a rate of 100 per minute followed by two mouth-to-mouth ventilations.

"The rescuer(s) should ensure that ventilations cause minimum interruption of chest compressions. At the same time, other bystanders should alert the Emergency Medical Services."

The guidelines also say: "If you are not able, or are unwilling, to give rescue breaths, give chest compressions only."

Original at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4526911/Mouth-to-mouth-may-harm-chances-of-survival-research-shows.html