Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation: basic life support

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is the cessation of spontaneous ventilation and systemic perfusion, which, if not rapidly detected and treated, leads to hypoxia and death. Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) is a technique employed to reverse CPA. A review of veterinary and human literature revealed that producing evidence-based guidelines for veterinary CPCR is difficult due to the limited number of clinical veterinary studies. Many studies have been performed in human medicine and healthy animal models, however induced ventricular fibrillation does not represent clinically relevant situations. Despite this, evidence-based chest compression and ventilation rates for small animals can be recommended. Over-ventilation and inadequate chest compressions commonly occur during CPCR. Education of staff likely to be involved in CPCR and monitoring efficacy of CPCR during CPA is important to optimize the likelihood of success.