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Cardiac Arrest - Frequently Asked Questions

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Lakshmi Venkataraman, MD on Jun 21, 2022


Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which doctor will help if there is cardiac arrest?

All doctors are trained for CPR in the event of cardiac arrest. Normally an intensive care doctor or a cardiologist will look after the patients once they are admitted to the hospitals.

2. How long does cardiopulmonary resuscitation of CPR continue?

This will depend on the cause of cardiac arrest, if known. It can vary from 10 minutes to 45 minutes.


3. What is the Prognosis for Cardiac Arrest?

Outside of a hospital setting, the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest is 7.6%. This percentage increases to 22% when the patient is already in a hospital setting mainly due to instant care.

The chances of survival are usually assessed at 72 hours or more after the arrest.

4. What are the chances of brain damage after cardiac arrest?


Brain damage due to loss of blood supply and hypoxia is a leading cause of disability after cardiac arrest. If the blood circulation to the brain is not re-established in 6 to 10 minutes there can be permanent brain damage.

5. Are there any methods to prevent brain injury after cardiac arrests?

Cooling the body or hypothermia is one way of protecting the brain, however this requires to be in a hospital that has this facility.

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