CPR in the elderly: when should it be performed?
Data comparing the success of CPR in elderly hospitalized persons, those living in the community, and those in long-term care facilities show varying results. In general, elderly patients who receive CPR following arrest do not fare as well as younger patients, but there appears to be a subgroup of elderly in whom the success rate is relatively high. Specifically, patients who demonstrate ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia are more likely to survive than are those demonstrating asystole or electromechanical dissociation. Most studies have not shown a difference in mental or functional impairment between older and younger survivors of cardiac arrest.
Tresch
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Division of Cardiology-Hypertension, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome