Resuscitation after a cardiac arrest: The chances for survival are overestimated

With cardiac arrest, the chance of surviving decreases with every minute that passes without blood circulation. What a lot of people don't know: The brain is irreversibly damaged after just a few seconds. Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel are making the case for more information - and for clear communication regarding whether someone actually wants to be resuscitated. Around 8000 people in Switzerland suffer from a cardiac arrest every year. When the heart stops and there is no oxygen being pumped to the vital organs, these organs become damaged. The brain in particular is very sensitive to the lack of oxygen. "Nerve cells in the brain become damaged from the very first minute without blood circulation, and the chance of surviving without any neurological deficits starts to decrease exponentially," explains Professor Sabina Hunziker.