If CPR has been ongoing for ten minutes on a patient in cardiac arrest and an AED is ready to analyze, what should you do?

In a cardiac arrest situation, performing CPR is critical for maintaining blood flow to vital organs until defibrillation can take place. If the AED is ready to analyze the patient's heart rhythm after ten minutes of CPR, the best course of action is to continue CPR until the AED indicates whether a shock is advised.

Continuous CPR is essential because it helps to keep blood circulating and can increase the chances of a successful defibrillation when the AED analyzes the rhythm. Pausing CPR for AED analysis can compromise the patient's survival by allowing blood flow to stop during a crucial period when every second counts.

Continuing CPR while defibrillation is being prepared ensures that the patient continues to receive support, preserving brain function and increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome if a shock is indicated. This approach aligns with current resuscitation guidelines, which emphasize minimizing interruptions in CPR.