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Complications of Rescue Breathing

Rescue breathing, also called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, was not originally part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but was added after the practice was proposed. With original CPR, the rescuer would give a victim whose heart had stopped two rescue breaths alternated with 30 chest compressions. The latest guidelines from the American Heart Association advise omitting the rescue breathing and concentrating on chest compressions. This advice is for bystanders and does not apply to medical personnel.

  1. New Guidelines

    • The new CPR guidelines were issued in an attempt to make CPR easier for the layperson to perform, not because of any complications or side effects of rescue breathing. Research also showed that there was a similar rate of survival when CPR was performed by bystanders with and without rescue breathing. However, with certain medical conditions, there was actually a better rate of survival with chest compressions only.

    Drawbacks to Rescue Breathing

    • Although there have been few reports of infections being spread to the rescuer by mouth-to-mouth breathing, many people are reluctant to do rescue breathing on a stranger, especially if they do not have a resuscitation mask to prevent actual contact with the victim. Rescue breathing also complicates CPR and interferes with chest compressions. Many experts think that continuing chest compressions to keep the heart pumping is the most important function of CPR. To use rescue breathing, you have to interrupt compressions to position the victim's head for breathing, then find your hand position to again continue compressions.

    Calling 911

    • If someone is unconscious and does not respond if you shake him, call 911 as soon as possible. In addition to sending paramedics or other emergency personnel, the 911 dispatcher can often assist you with CPR if it is determined that the victim is not breathing. In most cases, this will mean chest compressions only. If the dispatcher included rescue breathing with instructions for CPR, it could needlessly complicate and slow the CPR process because of the time spent switching between rescue breathing and compressions, as well as the time it takes conveying the instructions.

    Uses for Rescue Breathing

    • Chest compressions are used when the victim has no pulse, which indicates her heart has stopped. If the victim has a pulse, but is not breathing, rescue breathing may help, but this situation is difficult for a bystander to evaluate. If you take a CPR class, you will probably learn rescue breathing, although you are advised to use only chest compressions if called upon to do CPR. However, in life-threatening situations, you will not be punished for choosing one approach over another. Paramedics will be able to better ascertain the situation, and whether rescue breathing is necessary.

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