How many cycles of CPR should be performed in 2 minutes on an adult?

In adult CPR, the recommended rhythm is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. One complete cycle of CPR consists of these 30 compressions and 2 breaths. In a typical scenario, it takes about 30 seconds to complete one cycle if done efficiently and at the correct rate. Therefore, over a 2-minute period, which is 120 seconds, you can complete approximately 4 cycles if we assume a slight margin for transitioning between compressions and breaths.

However, CPR guidelines sometimes suggest a practical approach where the focus is on maintaining high-quality compressions rather than strictly adhering to timing. In practice, rescuers might reach a total of roughly 5 cycles in 2 minutes, considering some variability in execution speed.

Thus, while the answer might suggest 5 cycles as the practical number achievable in a 2-minute timeframe, the rationale aligns with the understanding that performing more cycles leads to more compressions and breaths delivered, which can be critical for increasing the chances of survival for a cardiac arrest patient. Hence, 5 cycles can be considered the most effective in terms of CPR performance within that time limit.