Chest Compressions May Be Most Important Part of CPR (1/2)

Cardiopulmonaryresuscitation, or CPR, can save the life of someone whose heart has stopped. The condition is called cardiacarrest. The heart stops pumping blood. The person stops breathing. Without lifesavingmeasures, the brain starts to die within 4 to 6 minutes.

CPR combines breathing into the victim's mouth and repeated presses on the chest. CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing to the heart and brain. However, a new Japanese study questions the usefulness of mouth-to-mouth breathing. The study was published in the British medical magazine, The Lancet. Doctors in Tokyo led the research. It examined more than 4000 people who had suffered cardiac arrest. In all the cases, witnesses saw the event happen.

More than 1000 of the victims received some kind of medical assistance from witnesses. 712 received CPR. 439 received chest presses only. No mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths were given to them.

The researchers say any kind of CPR improved chances of the patient's survival. But, they said those people treated with only chest presses suffered less brain damage. 22% survived with good brain ability. Only 10% of the victims treated with traditional CPR survived with good brain ability.