[A brief history of resuscitation - the influence of previous experience on modern techniques and methods]. / Krótka historia resuscytacji - wplyw doswiadczen z przeszlosci na obecnie stosowane techniki i metody.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is relatively novel branch of medical science, however first descriptions of mouth-to-mouth ventilation are to be found in the Bible and literature is full of descriptions of different resuscitation methods - from flagellation and ventilation with bellows through hanging the victims upside down and compressing the chest in order to stimulate ventilation to rectal fumigation with tobacco smoke. The modern history of CPR starts with Kouwenhoven et al. who in 1960 published a paper regarding heart massage through chest compressions. Shortly after that in 1961Peter Safar presented a paradigm promoting opening the airway, performing rescue breaths and chest compressions. First CPR guidelines were published in 1966. Since that time guidelines were modified and improved numerously by two leading world expert organizations ERC (European Resuscitation Council) and AHA (American Heart Association) and published in a new version every 5 years. Currently 2010 guidelines should be obliged. In this paper authors made an attempt to present history of development of resuscitation techniques and methods and assess the influence of previous lifesaving methods on nowadays technologies, equipment and guidelines which allow to help those women and men whose life is in danger due to sudden cardiac arrest.

[Resuscitation by direct heart massage in the history of surgery and anesthesia of Bjelovar hospital]. / Reanimacija izravnom masazom srca u povijesti kirurgije i anestezije bjelovarske bolnice.

This historical review presents cases of direct heart massage in patients with intraoperative cardiac arrest performed at Department of Surgery, Bjelovar General Hospital. Out of five cases recorded in the 1960-1970 period, resuscitation proved successful in two patients, but one patients living normal life free from any subsequent complications. The patient critical general condition, comorbidities and anesthesiology incidents as the possible causes of cardiac arrest are discussed, and the staffing and logistic problems encountered in a small-town hospital are presented.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: from the beginning to the present day.

Cardiac arrest represents a dramatic event that can occur suddenly and often without premonitory signs, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and breathing after cardiac output ceases and both coronary and cerebral blood flows stop. Restarting of the blood flow by cardiopulmonary resuscitation potentially re-establishes some cardiac output and organ blood flows. This article summarizes the major events that encompass the history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, beginning with ancient history and evolving into the current American Heart Association's commitment to save hearts.

Intensive care 1650: the revival of Anne Greene (c. 1628-59).

On a cold December day in 1650, 22-year-old Anne Greene was hanged in Oxford. When taken down after half an hour, she was found to show signs of life and over the next few days William Petty (1623-87), Thomas Willis (1621-75), Ralph Bathurst (1620-74) and Henry Clerke (1622-87) ministered to her full recovery. She was later pardoned of the charge of infanticide and, with the coffin wherein she had lain as a trophy, went into the country, became the subject not only of a prose and poetic narrative but also of a woodcut. Anne married happily, bore three children and lived until 1659. A combination of low-body temperature and external (pedal) cardiac massage after her failed execution, it is suggested, helped to keep her alive until the arrival of the physicians who had come to make an anatomical dissection but serendipitously won golden opinions.

The resuscitation greats. Cemil Topuzlu Pasha: one of the forgotten pioneers in the history of open chest cardiac massage.

One of the pioneers of open chest cardiac massage was Cemil Topuzlu Pasha, in Turkey. He presented his experience in open heart cardiac massage in several papers published in Ottoman and French and German. On 27 August 1903 one of his patients undergoing external urethrotomy under chloroform anaesthesia developed cardiac arrest and he performed open chest cardiac massage. He reported his approach to this event and discussed the literature regarding resuscitation available at the beginning of 20th century. Meanwhile he had defined "Do Not Resuscitate" code in cases involving serious heart disease and other diseases where life expectancy is very short. The Ottoman version of his report is translated in this paper.

The history of neonatal resuscitation.

Attempts at human resuscitation date back to ancient times. Most strategies for resuscitation focused on adults until the early 1800s, when newborn resuscitation captured the interest of noted practitioners. The most promising techniques and strategies for neonatal resuscitation were developed during the latter part of the twentieth century. This article examines the key components of neonatal resuscitation and the discoveries that stimulated the development of current neonatal resuscitation practices.

[Cardiac massage: the evolution of techniques]. / Le massage cardiaque: évolution des techniques.

Up to the 19th century, reanimation of persons apparently dead just included respiratory managing. Cardiac reanimation was born with the accession to anesthesia and their severe cardiac complications. Although closed-chest cardiac massage had been described from the outset of our century, bloody techniques of direct cardiac massage was especially used until the end of the fifties. Methodically, Kouvenhoven has demonstrated closed-chest cardiac massage effectiveness, and has known to lay down this technique in cardiac reanimation.

Early proponents of cardiac massage.

Open-chest cardiac massage in humans to treat chloroform syncope was first performed by Niehans in Berne and Langenbuch in Berlin in the late 1880s. Closed-chest cardiac massage in humans was advocated by Koenig and Maass in Göttingen in the last two decades of the 19th century. The closed technique was used in Central Europe for several decades to treat chloroform syncope.