siddharth wrote at 04/25/2013 10:16 AM: > Unrelated to the main topic here, but all the talk of DNR et al reminded > me of this article earlier this week - > http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22154552 . > Hmmm.
Thanks. That's definitely relevant. But the trouble with that article (and most, actually) is the purely positive results reported. Here's one that _seems_ more objective. A practical first step might be to push for more realistic portrayals of CPR in the media. CPR: Less Effective Than You Might Think http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/35320/35323/372221.html?d=dmtHMSContent > As opposed to many medical myths, researchers have reliable data concerning > the success rates of CPR (without the use of automatic defibrillators) in a > variety of settings: > > 2% to 30% effectiveness when administered outside of the hospital > 6% to 15% for hospitalized patients > Less than 5% for elderly victims with multiple medical problems > > In June 1996, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study about the > success rates of CPR as shown on the television medical shows "ER," "Chicago > Hope" and "Rescue 911." According to the shows, CPR successfully revived the > victim 75% of the time, more than double the most conservative real-life > estimates. A more recent study published in 2009 suggested that the immediate > success rate of CPR on television may be more realistic; however, discharge > from the hospital and longer-term survival were rarely mentioned in TV > dramas. In addition, while most CPR is actually performed on sick, older > individuals with cardiac disease, most victims in television dramas are young > and required CPR following trauma or a near-drowning — conditions with the > highest success rates. > > Finally, patients on TV shows usually die or fully recovered. In real life, > many of those who are revived by CPR wind up severely debilitated. One reason > may be that, as noted by a study published in the January 2005 issue of the > Journal of the American Medical Association, CPR is frequently not > administered adequately, even when provided by trained ambulance personnel. > Improved technique (including more frequent and rapid compressions, as > recommended in the new guidelines) and use of automatic defibrillators could > dramatically improve success rates. > > The low success rate of CPR may be an example of how a medical myth is > perpetuated by the media because it is more appealing than the truth. > Unfortunately, sugar-coating the concept of CPR leads to unrealistic > expectations when a loved one requires CPR or is ill, and heroic measures are > under consideration. A better understanding of when CPR may be effective and > when it is highly unlikely to help will better serve everyone in the > unfortunate event of catastrophic illness or injury. If you learn to > administer CPR, you may save someone's life, so learning the proper technique > is worth the effort. However, you should not expect the results you see on > television. -- =><= glen e. p. ropella And I'm never gonna tell you why ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
