Which statement is true about CPR and defibrillation by a health care provider in sudden cardiac arrest?

Which statement is true about CPR and defibrillation by a health care provider in sudden cardiac arrest?

• A. Defibrillation times one should always precede CPR
• B. CPR should always be carried out for 2 minutes prior to defibrillation
• C. Two minutes of chest compressions alone (no ventilation) should be carried out prior to first shock
• D. If arrest less than 1 minute (witnessed) one biphasic shock then 5 cycles of CPR

Answer: (D)

In a sudden cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm, the timing and sequence of actions depend on how recently the collapse occurred. If the arrest is witnessed and happened within a minute, the best approach is to deliver one biphasic shock as soon as a shockable rhythm is identified, then start high-quality chest compressions immediately for about two minutes (roughly five cycles) before rechecking the rhythm or delivering another shock. This order maximizes the chance of rapidly terminating the malignant rhythm with defibrillation while preserving perfusion to the brain and heart through continuous CPR in the interim. The idea is to get the defibrillation in promptly when the patient is most likely to respond, then sustain circulation with CPR until a rhythm check shows whether another shock is needed.

In a sudden cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm, the timing and sequence of actions depend on how recently the collapse occurred. If the arrest is witnessed and happened within a minute, the best approach is to deliver one biphasic shock as soon as a shockable rhythm is identified, then start high-quality chest compressions immediately for about two minutes (roughly five cycles) before rechecking the rhythm or delivering another shock. This order maximizes the chance of rapidly terminating the malignant rhythm with defibrillation while preserving perfusion to the brain and heart through continuous CPR in the interim. The idea is to get the defibrillation in promptly when the patient is most likely to respond, then sustain circulation with CPR until a rhythm check shows whether another shock is needed.