Airway management and ventilation during CPR.

Abstract

In this porcine model of fibrillatory cardiac arrest (Table 1), ventilation during basic life support does not improve 24-hour survival or neurological outcome compared to chest compressions alone when advanced life support is provided within 15 minutes of arrest. Bystander CPR can save lives, but is usually not offered, at least in part, because of reluctance to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation. If chest compressions alone are similarly effective and more acceptable compared to chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth ventilation, the simpler technique may result in more lives saved.