Patient waking up during CPR

[LisaStone]

Saw an interesting article about a man who AWOKE during CPR! I was shocked to read it, and was wondering if anyone had similar stories?!

Article:

Patient remains awake during 9

[Guest219794]

I think there are two issues being conflated here.

ROSC is the goal, and can result in somebody waking up, and requesting that people stop pounding on him.

Then there is te phenomenon of doing effective enough CPR to effectively perfuse the brain, but not achieve ROSC.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'd seen that and was there couple of times. Anaphylaxis, very low BP and someone started compressions while I was still quite there.

It is good real 10/10. But it is just the case when pain is, actually, good for you.

[Wuzzie]

Then there is the phenomenon of doing effective enough CPR to effectively perfuse the brain, but not achieve ROSC.

This is what I'm referring to in my posts.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

...happens in the movies and on television shows all the time.

And the patients look great.

And somehow the staff don't sweat while doing compressions.

And no bones are broken.

[RobbiRN, RN]

I think there are two issues being conflated here.

ROSC is the goal, and can result in somebody waking up, and requesting that people stop pounding on him.

Then there is te phenomenon of doing effective enough CPR to effectively perfuse the brain, but not achieve ROSC.

I agree with the distinction. At times we may not know the difference in rapid transitions back and forth across the thin line of demarcation. ROSC itself can be fleeting, fragile, and deteriorate in seconds. Many patients require a series of resuscitations before they stabilize or we finally call it.

[aceboogieman]

The CPR must have been effective. If he woke up... time to stop.

Pretty much

[brownbook]

...happens in the movies and on television shows all the time.

And the patients look great.

And somehow the staff don't sweat while doing compressions.

And no bones are broken.

The patient not only looks great. They are discharged, or discharge their selves, shortly thereafter.

Oh, who can forget James Bond defiberlating himself!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

My hospital has seen that more than once when they have used the Lucas device for CPR. They have had to give patients sedation!! Unfortunately as soon as you shut it off they are unresponsive without a pulse again, it's kind of a weird thing. You essentially have to tell them they are dead while you are doing CPR and that you cannot save them.

We have the Lucas on the ambulance too, but I have yet to see that happen.

Annie

Do you really tell them they are dead and you can't save them?

[Bumex, DNP, NP]

Also had this happen to three different patients.

[ob1jacobi]

I've had probably half my patients wake up during chest compressions. One that i will never forget... He coded over and over all night. By the time it was almost morning, "codes" were minimized to me hoppin up on the bed, giving him a few compressions, and he'd wake back up. He was rather frail, so all his ribs were broken His wife finally let him be a DNR after she saw him waking up during compressions.

[Guest374845]

I've had to put a pt in restraints during a code. He was pulseless without chest compressions, and trying (poorly) to fight us off during compressions.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

The CPR must have been effective. If he woke up... time to stop.

The thing is they pass out again once you stop!