Sammanfattning
Cardiac arrest carries a poor prognosis. One-year survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest is 15-20 percent, while survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is approximately 5 percent. The Chain of Survival describes factors associated with improved outcome following cardiac arrest. The significance of quality chest compressions, early defibrillation, therapeutic hypothermia and primary percutaneous intervention are well-documented. Cardiac arrest is a clinical diagnosis based on the combination of unconsciousness and the absence of normal breathing. Basic life support consists of maintaining airway patency, delivering rescue breaths and circulatory support without the use of equipment. Advanced life support includes intubation, manual defibrillation, administration of drugs and identification and correction of reversible causes. Cardiac arrest is associated with shockable and non-shockable heart rhythms. Pediatric cardiac arrest is most often secondary to hypoxia. Postresuscitation care is pivotal to the outcome of the patient.