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20th June 2024

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Information for patients and carers

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a emergency treatment that tries to restart your heart and your breathing
  • CPR is forceful and can cause broken ribs, internal bleeding and brain damage
  • For some people it can be successful and kick starts the heart back into a normal rhythmn
  • If you are seriously ill and near the end of your life, there may be no benefit in subjecting you to CPR, as your heart and breathing will actually have stopped as a natural part of of the dying process
  • Less than 2% of patients with advanced cancer or palliative conditions who receive CPR leave hospital alive
  • If you do not wish to receive CPR you can request that your medical or nursing team complete a DNACPR form (Do not attempt CPR). You should inform those close to you
  • All other treatment remains available 

The NHS Wales Talk CPR website has a list of frequently asked questions about CPR 

This 3 minute video explaining CPR is from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Recommended Resources

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust: Decisions about treatment

Published 1st November 2022

Talk CPR

Published 1st January 2018

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