Management of 'Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation' (DNACPR) decisions in the perioperative period

• Published in: Journal of perioperative practice Vol. 25; no. 7-8; p. 126
• Main Authors: Dawson, S R, McBrien, M E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia - ethics; Anesthesia - standards; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - ethics; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - nursing; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - standards; Decision Making - ethics; Female; General Surgery - ethics; General Surgery - standards; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Ireland; Male; Perioperative Nursing - ethics; Perioperative Nursing - standards; Resuscitation Orders - ethics; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1750-4589
• DOI: 10.1177/1750458915025007-802

It is increasingly common for patients to be scheduled for anaesthesia and surgery with a 'Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation' (DNACPR) decision in place. Updated guidelines for the implementation and management of DNACPR decisions were published jointly by the British Medical Association (BMA), the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in 2014 (BMA, RC(UK), RCN 2014). The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) published specific guidelines in 2009 to guide the perioperative management of such patients (AAGBI 2009). In this article, we explain these guidelines with a focus on how DNACPR decisions are made and how they can be modified in order to permit appropriate surgery to take place.