MANUAL PHYSIOLOGY PRACTICAL - Repository:The Medical ...

FM/UOJ
Experiment 8
ARTIFICAL RESPIRATION AND CARDIAC RESUSCITATION
When the heart or lungs fail for unnatural causes from which they can be revived, and
the person is detected within five minutes so that there is no brain death, there is a good
chance of reviving the person. As resuscitation in time makes the difference between life
and death, every medical student should be skilled in delivering artificial respiration and
cardiac massage.
Artificial respiration and / or cardiac massage should be delivered only if the organ
concerned has completely failed. A model, Resusci Anne, is provided to practice these
manoeuvres with an electrical system for guidance.
Method:
1. Examination for vital functions
Feel the carotid pulse, listen for heart sounds if a stethoscope is available, observe
for chest movements, and hold the hand above the nose to feel the expiratory air, inspect
the pupil and test for light reflex. These should be done in shortest possible time and a
decision to deliver cardiac massage or/ and artificial respiration should be made
considering the fact that only five minutes are available between the time of loss of
function and commencement of resuscitation.
2. Artificial Respiration
Inspect the airways for obstruction. Place a clean cloth over the mouth.
Hold the back of the neck by one hand and press the forehead by the heal of the second
hand to extend the neck. Close the nose by the fingers of the second hand. Place your
mouth over the victim’s mouth, covering it completely, especially at the angles, and blow
in. While doing so, observe the chest rising through the corner of your eyes. Remove the
mouth and turn your face away to avoid breathing the victim’s expiratory air but to feel
air coming out.
The artificial respiration is only to sustain vital functions and should
mimic normal depth (less than 500 ml for an adult) and frequency (12 per minute). The
green light of the panel should not be lighted while blowing. The neck must be extended
to raise the tongue of the victim to prevent it blocking the airway.
3. Cardiac Massage
Locate the sternal angle and the xyphoid process. Place the heal of one
hand above the sternum, in the middle of the two points located. Place the heal of the
other hand above the first one and compress the sternum and release it.
The heart is squeezed between the sternum and the vertebra. The rate and
depth should be close to normal values; about 60 per minute and the sternum should go
down about four (4) centimeters in an adult. The amber light which shows the depth
should come on and the red light which shows wrong hand position should not be on.
Circulation
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