For the past 40 years, CPR has been composed of two things—rescue breaths and chest compressions—and this formula for cardiac survival can revive around 25 percent of patients without a pulse. However, emerging evidence suggests there may be a more effective protocol for resuscitation that can save even more lives, and it’s simpler than traditional CPR.

Cardiocerebral resuscitation, or CCR, differs from CPR in that for the first 5 to 10 minutes after cardiac arrest, a rescuer does not breathe for the patient at all. Instead, the focus shifts to performing unrelenting chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. One clinical trial in Wisconsin showed this technique saved 30 percent more lives when compared with traditional CPR. Better yet, patients who receive CCR instead of CPR were found to be 24 percent more likely to be neurologically intact upon release from the hospital.

Currently, CPR certifying organizations, such as the American Heart Association, have yet to include the principles of CCR in their protocols. It is considered likely that the AHA will probably include some of this research when they meet to discuss their guidelines in November.

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