ABSTRACT
Cardiac arrest, consistent on cessation of cardiac mechanical activity, is diagnosed in the absence of consciousness, pulse and breath. The totality of measurements applied to revert it is called cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two different levels can be distinguished: basic vital support and advanced cardiac vital support. In the basic vital support methods which do not require special technology are used: opening of air lines, mouth to mouth ventilation, cardiac massage; recently, there is a tendency to include the use of defibrillator. Advanced cardiac vital support should be the continuation of basic vital support. In this situation defibrillator, venous cannulation, orotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation with high content in oxygen and drugs are used. Before beginning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, one should make sure that a real cardiac arrest is present, less than 10 min have elapsed, the victim does not have an immediately fatal prognosis and there is no deny by the victim or his/her family to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In case of doubt it should be always practised. It is important to know the diagnosis and prognosis of the cause of cardiac arrest as soon as possible, in order to treat it and decide if the maneuvers should be continued. Hydro-electrolytic disturbances must be treated and neurological damage after cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be assessed. Only 20% of patients who recover an effective cardiac rhythm after cardiopulmonary resuscitation are discharged from hospital without neurological sequelae.
