Before advocated as an important part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mouth to mouth affect the procedure and reduces the chances of survival of patients with heart failure.

Studies show a survival rate three times higher in people subjected only to the continuous chest compressions until help arrives. Therefore, the Ilcor (International Alliance of Committees resuscitation), an organization that brings together the main associations of Cardiology from all around the world, will change from the 2010 guidelines for emergency procedures in cardiac arrest. The layman must forget the mouth to mouth and apply only compression from now. This is one of the greatest discoveries of cardiovascular emergency in recent times.

According to the new orientation, only cardiac massage should be applied by the layman. The volunteer should stay with the patient to start compressions, pushing the region between the nipples 4 cm down and returning to the starting position until help arrives.

There will be changes also in relation to the use of the defibrillator. The application of shock may occur before the massage only to about four minutes after cardiac arrest. After that time, the compression must precede the use of defibrillators. That’s because, after this period, there are metabolic changes in the body and the heart must be prepared with the compression before receiving the shock.

Via: Folha.