The list of internal injuries that can be considered when a patient goes into a coma includes heart contusion, hemopericardium, pulmonary complications, lacerations of the spleen and liver, and fat emboli.
Although 87% of patients who undergo CPR are not injured, there are still some types of injuries that can occur. These include internal bleeding, broken ribs, and lung injuries.
About 3% of the patients who survived to hospital discharge and 15% of those who died in the facility are suffering from broken ribs. A study conducted in the 1990s revealed that 55% of the patients who died before they could be discharged had broken ribs. Lung injuries were also found in 3% of the patients.
The recovery period for broken ribs is usually around two to three months. In the 1990s, a study revealed that 55% of the patients who died before they were discharged had broken ribs.
The costal cartilage can also break in an unknown number of cases. This can make the injury sound like breaking bones.
The type and frequency of injuries can vary depending on the patient’s sex and age. In 1999, a study conducted in Austria revealed that female participants who had undergone CPR were more prone to experiencing sternal fractures than their male counterparts. It also found that the risk of rib fractures increased with age. Children and infants are less prone to experiencing rib fractures during CPR. About 2% of them suffer from anterior and multiple fractures, though they usually recover fully.
In most cases, people who undergo CPR are not injured. However, 2% of them suffer from an injury as a result of the error made by a bystander.
A 2004 article stated that chest injuries are worth the price in order to achieve the best results with chest compressions.