As a medical professional with expertise in emergency medicine, I can provide you with an answer to your question regarding the duration a brain can survive on CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). CPR is a critical intervention when someone experiences cardiac arrest, as it helps maintain blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. However, the survivability of the brain during CPR is highly dependent on several factors, including the duration of the arrest, the quality of CPR provided, and the underlying cause of the arrest. The case you're referring to, where CPR was continued for over half an hour and the patient survived with good brain function after 38 minutes, is indeed exceptional and highlights the importance of not giving up on CPR too soon. This case was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in 2013 and serves as a reminder that in certain circumstances, the brain can survive longer than initially thought without a sustained blood flow. However, it's important to note that this is not the norm. The longer the duration of cardiac arrest, the lower the chances of survival, especially with good neurological outcomes. Most medical guidelines suggest that if there is no return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after a certain period, which can vary but is often around 20 to 30 minutes, the likelihood of a good outcome decreases significantly. In summary, while there are exceptional cases where the brain can survive on CPR for an extended period, such as the 38 minutes mentioned, these are not typical and survival with good brain function remains a challenge beyond the usual time frames. read more >>

That we can all agree on. Now, Japanese researchers report that continuing CPR for a half-hour or more may help victims survive with good brain function �C even after a full 38 minutes �C according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013.read more >>