> Is the article saying that estimating the CO2 output via this new method is a more modern / sensitive way of detecting a pulse?
No, it has nothing at all to do with a pulse. It has to do with a much better indicator: blood flow through organs.
The goal of compressions in CPR is to keep blood flowing so organs (especially the brain) can get "fresh" (oxygen-rich) blood and get rid of their CO2 buildup. Because blood "naturally" goes through the gas exchange of the lungs during its travels, CO2 output is a very good indicator of blood circulating correctly, and therefore internal organs having a chance.
As long as the CO2 output is good, the brain (and other organs, but mainly the brain) can be considered protected (alive) and the patient can be saved if whatever went wrong is fixed (generally the heart restarted or arrhythmia managed)
The problem of checking the pulse is that it's a very bad indicator of whether your compressions are working: it does not indicate anything about them, it just tells you if the heart is beating strong enough to generate a pulse. Even though CPR might be keeping the patient alive with a stopped heart.
No, it has nothing at all to do with a pulse. It has to do with a much better indicator: blood flow through organs.
The goal of compressions in CPR is to keep blood flowing so organs (especially the brain) can get "fresh" (oxygen-rich) blood and get rid of their CO2 buildup. Because blood "naturally" goes through the gas exchange of the lungs during its travels, CO2 output is a very good indicator of blood circulating correctly, and therefore internal organs having a chance.
As long as the CO2 output is good, the brain (and other organs, but mainly the brain) can be considered protected (alive) and the patient can be saved if whatever went wrong is fixed (generally the heart restarted or arrhythmia managed)
The problem of checking the pulse is that it's a very bad indicator of whether your compressions are working: it does not indicate anything about them, it just tells you if the heart is beating strong enough to generate a pulse. Even though CPR might be keeping the patient alive with a stopped heart.