What’s changed in CPR after COVID-19?

Bernd W. Böttiger, MD, is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the University of Cologne, Germany.

What’s new in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we suggested using personal protective equipment (PPE), and for laypeople we said: “Focus on chest compression and not so much on ventilation.” And since the COVID-19 pandemic is more or less over now, we recommend usual CPR procedures for professionals and for laypeople.

For laypeople, it is important to know that most of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home. So, in most cases, it is a family member or friend whom you can help with immediate start of lay resuscitation and you should not be so much afraid of any transmitted diseases in these cases.