CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR involves applying external chest compression to make the heart pump and breathing for the victim by mouth-to-mouth ventilation. In the case of an early heart attack, death can often be avoided if a bystander starts CPR promptly (within 5 minutes of the onset of ventricular fibrillation). When paramedics arrive, medications and/or electrical shock (cardioversion) to the heart can be administered to convert ventricular fibrillation to a normal heart rhythm. Therefore, prompt CPR and rapid paramedic response can improve the survival chances from a heart attack. When CPR is initiated by an inexperienced bystander on someone who has had sudden cardiac arrest, CPR with chest compression alone may be preferred. In such circumstances it has been found that chest compression alone gives a similar chance of survival as standard CPR with chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation and it is that much simpler.

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Abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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cardiopulmonary reserve; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; centripetal rub; cerebral cortex perfusion rate; chlorophenyl red; computerized patient record; cortisol production rate; cumulative patency rate; customary, prevailing, and reasonable [rate]

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CPR abbr cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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see cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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cardiopulmonary resuscitation.