When is resuscitation discontinued?

When is resuscitation discontinued?

• A. After one hour of no response.
• B. After 5 minutes of no sign.
• C. After 30 minutes of no visible sign of improvement.
• D. Immediately after arrival.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is when it’s appropriate to stop resuscitation in a cardiac arrest. In high-quality CPR, if there are no signs of life and no improvement after a sustained period, the chance of meaningful recovery becomes extremely low. Practically, a common guideline used in training sets a stopping point at about 30 minutes of continuous CPR without signs of improvement. That’s why the best choice is the option describing cessation after 30 minutes with no visible signs of improvement—the effort is unlikely to change the outcome, and resources can be redirected to ongoing patient care or other emergencies. Stopping after one hour is longer than the typical practical threshold used in many protocols. Five minutes is too short to declare cessation in most situations, since early signs of response can be delayed. Stopping immediately upon arrival ignores the need to perform a proper assessment and to continue life-saving measures until there is a clear reason to stop.

The main idea being tested is when it’s appropriate to stop resuscitation in a cardiac arrest. In high-quality CPR, if there are no signs of life and no improvement after a sustained period, the chance of meaningful recovery becomes extremely low. Practically, a common guideline used in training sets a stopping point at about 30 minutes of continuous CPR without signs of improvement. That’s why the best choice is the option describing cessation after 30 minutes with no visible signs of improvement—the effort is unlikely to change the outcome, and resources can be redirected to ongoing patient care or other emergencies.

Stopping after one hour is longer than the typical practical threshold used in many protocols. Five minutes is too short to declare cessation in most situations, since early signs of response can be delayed. Stopping immediately upon arrival ignores the need to perform a proper assessment and to continue life-saving measures until there is a clear reason to stop.