Changes to BLS/ACLS and PALS

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 1, 2005

Has anyone seen the AHA guideline changes:
BLS, 30-2 compression to ventilation
ACLS, 1 shock then 2 minutes of CPR then the 2nd shock
How could the science have been that far off to have changes this drastic over 4 years???

Not sure why, but this new version makes more sense.

sjrn85 · Dec 1, 2005

Pretty brutal for the person doing compressions; you're going to have people needing to switch out sooner.

MarcusKspn · Dec 2, 2005

I don't really think you are going to tire out sooner, you are only doing a few compressions more a minute. The big thing is not to stop and interupt compressions for ventilations. Everytime you stop and quit compressions you have to build up thoracic pressure again before blood even starts to circulate to the brain. So if you do 15 at a time you only pump 8-7 times. If you go for 30 pumps you pump 20-22 times instead of 15 times. Less oxygen in the lungs, but more oxygenated blood circulating to the brain. So in that regard it makes a lot of sense.

KatieBell · Dec 2, 2005

I have to say, it's pretty much the way we do CPR in the ED...

I think AHA is bringing CPR rec's into the reality of what has actually saved lives more frequently....