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News Release
Audio: The Lancet interview with Gordon A. Ewy, MD

Free class in

Chest-Compression-Only CPR:

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

DuVal Auditorium

University Medical Center

Class is free, no reservation required. Participants will receive a letter of attendance in the mail, however, this is not a certification class.

University Medical Center is located on the West side of Campbell Ave, north of Speedway. For free parking, follow the signs to the Visitor’s parking garage. To find DuVal auditorium, make a right turn immediately after entering UMC main lobby. Look for the sign, “Be a Lifesaver.” 

If you have further questions, please call 520-626-4083

In witnessed sudden cardiac arrest in adults, studies show that stopping chest compressions to give mouth-to-mouth breaths is more harmful than helpful and is not necessary*. Follow these instructions to perform the more effective Continuous Chest Compression CPR:

Direct someone to call 911 or make the call yourself.

Position the victim on the floor on his or her back. Place one hand on top of the other and place the heel of the bottom hand on the center of the victim's chest. Lock your elbows and begin forceful chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.

If an AED is available, attach it to the victim and follow the machine's instructions. If no AED is available, perform continuous chest compressions until paramedics arrive. Take turns if you have a partner.

 

* In suspected drowning or overdose in adults, follow standard CPR procedures (alternate 30 chest compressions with two mouth-to-mouth breaths). In children under 8 years of age, alternate five compressions with one breath. For more information about learning standard CPR, visit the American Red Cross.
For more information about Continuous Chest Compression CPR, please call the UA Sarver Heart Center at (520) 626-4083.
 

CPR Research at UA Sarver Heart Center

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming nearly 1,000 lives each day.  In fact, sudden cardiac arrest is truly a public health crisis, and has been designated as such in Arizona.  The average survival of patients from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Arizona used to be less than five percent.  However, through the development of Cardiocerebral Resuscitation (a new form of CPR) by doctors and researchers at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and implemented by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in Arizona, the application of Cardiocerebral Resuscitation has resulted in a significant (300%) improvement in survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Cardiocerebral Resuscitation has three components. The first is called Chest Compression-Only CPR. Based on the fact that most people who witnessed an unexpected collapse would not perform CPR in part because of their reluctance to mouth-to-mouth breathing, a new approach was researched.  Sarver Heart Center researchers found that stopping chest compressions for any reason, including for mouth-to-mouth breathing, is harmful. Fortunately, as of  April 1, 2008, both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have recommended this approach, which the AHA calls "hands-only CPR" and the Red Cross "Compression-only CPR."   They are both the same technique that has been recommended for years by resuscitation researchers at The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center.

With Compression-Only CPR, there is a better chance of bystander participation and therefore a greater chance that the victim will survive.

The second part focuses on providing Emergency Medical Service (paramedic/firefighters) with more effective protocols for resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients. Central to implementing this effort in Arizona is the Save Hearts in Arizona Registry and Education Program—SHARE (www.azshare.gov). The program started out as a monitoring and implementation program to encourage Arizona businesses and organizations to obtain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and learn how to use them. AEDs are used to restore a normal rhythm in hearts after cardiac arrest by delivering an electric shock.

The SHARE program is under the auspices of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The SHARE initiative promotes public awareness, public education, data collection, and research of cardiac arrest.  Most of all, SHARE is designed to advance research in the therapy of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and seeks new strategies to save lives.

The SHARE program maintains statewide registries for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and cardiac arrest victims (CA).  The registries are designed for quality improvement.  The goal is to improve cardiac arrest survival through implementing scientifically proven strategies for EMS and non-EMS personnel.

A central part of this effort is the application of Cardiocerebral Resuscitation in Arizona. This modified approach for EMS providers is spearheaded by Dr. Bentley Bobrow and Lani Clark of the SHARE program and has resulted in survival rate increases of up to 300 percent Arizona. EMS personnel were trained to limit interruptions of chest compressions, to administer an initial set of 200 uninterrupted chest compressions over a period of approximately two minutes, then proceed with standard rhythm analysis and administer an electrical shock, if indicated.  Another 200 compressions are immediately performed, and this cycle is repeated three times.  EMS workers also administered epinephrine intravenously as soon as possible, when available, with each cycle of chest compressions.

The third component of Cardiocerebral Resuscitation is a statewide effort (spearheaded by Dr. Bentley Bobrow) is underway to create Cardiac Arrest Hospitals that offer highly specialized post-resuscitation care once the patient is hospitalized. One cutting-edge approach used under that protocol is induced moderate hypothermia for patients who are comatose following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. During hypothermia, suitable patients undergo cooling below the normal body temperature. Hypothermia treatment can reduce the chances of damage to a brain that has been starved of oxygen, for example during a cardiac arrest.

In addition to Dr. Gordon A. Ewy, members of the Sarver Heart Center Resuscitation Group include Dr. Karl B. Kern, Dr. Art Sanders, Dr. Robert Berg, Dr. Charles Otto, Dr. Bentley Bobrow, Dr. Ron Hilwig and Lani Clark.