According to researchers at John Hopkins, the most prevalent complication associated with CPR is the occurrence of fractured or cracked ribs. Additionally, this procedure has the potential to cause pulmonary hemorrhage, liver lacerations, and broken sternums, presenting further challenges for individuals whose hearts have been successfully resuscitated.
But those are just a few complications, unfortunately there's still more...
From NPR:
A rare but particularly awful effect of CPR is called CPR-induced consciousness: chest compressions circulate enough blood to the brain to awaken the patient during cardiac arrest, who may then experience ribs popping, needles entering their skin, a breathing tube passing through their larynx.
The traumatic nature of CPR may be why as many as half of patients who survive wish they hadn't received it, even though they lived.
It's not just a matter of life or death, if you survive, but quality of life. The injuries sustained from the resuscitation can sometimes mean a patient will never return to their previous selves. Two studies found that only 20-40% of older patients who survive CPR were able to function independently; others found somewhat better rates of recovery.
An even bigger quality of life problem is brain injury. When cardiac activity stops, the brain begins to die within minutes, while the rest of the body takes longer. Doctors are often able to restart a heart only to find that the brain has died. About 30% of survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest will have significant neurologic disability.
Again, older patients fare worse. Only 2% of survivors over 85 escape significant brain damage, according to one study.
This revelation is undoubtedly startling and prompts us to reflect on the potential consequences of CPR.
Although CPR undeniably plays a vital role in saving lives, it is important to acknowledge that there are instances where it may result in a worsened condition for the individual involved. Such circumstances may raise the question of whether medical intervention is always necessary, particularly when considering older individuals, and if allowing nature to take its course could be a valid consideration.
