Cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by bystanders does not increase adverse effects as assessed by chest radiography

Important adverse effects of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are well, known. We describe the number of nonmedical professional CPR-rela ted complications in patients surviving cardiac arrest, as assessed by ches t radiograph. Within 2 yr, all consecutive patients admitted to the departm ent of emergency medicine at a university hospital who had a witnessed, non traumatic, normothermic cardiac arrest were stud led. Radiologically evalua ted adverse effects were compared with Mann-Whitney U-tests between patient s who received bystander basic life support (Bystander group) and patients who did not receive bystander basic Life support before advanced Life suppo rt was started (ALS group). For assessment of bystander CPR-associated comp lications, chest radiographs were used. Of 224 patients, 173 were eligible. The median age was 58 yr (interquartile range, 51-71 yr), and 126 patients (73%) were men. The incidence of adverse effects associated with assisted- ventilation maneuvers and external chest compressions did not differ signif icantly between groups (severe gastric insufflation, 17% vs 18% between the Bystander group [n = 59] and the ALS group [n = 96], respectively; suspici on of aspiration, 22% vs 17%, respectively; soft tissue emphysema, 2% vs 1% , respectively; and serial rib fractures, 8% vs 8%, respectively). CPR admi nistered by nonmedical personnel did not increase the number of Life Suppor t-related adverse effects in patients surviving cardiac arrest as assessed by means of chest radiograph on admission.