Managing the cardiac arrest patient

Abstract

Cardiac arrest or Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs before Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). SCD is a common cause of death around the world with an estimated figure of 7 million deaths annually and over 300,000 occurring in the United States. Appropriate management of cardiac arrest patients (CAP) could increase their chances of survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with improvement in emergency medical services (EMS) are effective in saving lives. Bystanders and health care providers ought to be adequately skilled and equipped to deliver effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This article reviews effective methods of managing cardiac arrest victims.