In patients who are suffering from cardiac arrest, CPR is performed in order to maintain a steady flow of blood and keep their organs alive. This method uses a variety of mechanisms to increase the pressure between the venous and arterial blood beds. If the blood flow is stopped for a long period of time, the brain may suffer irreversible damage.
If the blood flow to the body stops for several hours, the body’s cells will die. Since the heart can lose its ability to maintain a normal rhythm, performing CPR within seven minutes is usually enough to revive a patient.
Effective CPR can increase the amount of oxygen that can reach the brain and prevent brain stem death. It can also help keep the heart beating.