Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for suspected/confirmed covid-19 patient with cardiac arrest; what is different?

Abstract

Anaesthesiologists are facing a new challenge with the recent outbreak of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID19) from the Hubei province of China. Currently there is no disease specific treatment and thus the mainstay of the treatment is prevention and supportive measures. Older patients with co-morbid conditions or conditions that lower immunity are more prone to get it with a more serious outcome. Due to the peculiarities of the aetiology and the mode of spread of the virus by direct contact, fomites, droplets and aerosols, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of these patients needs a different approach from the standard CPR guidelines. There is very limited literature available as the Covid-19 is a recent phenomenon and the literature is continuously being updated with newer developments. The resuscitation protocol being suggested here is in a dynamic state and may need changes as more data is being added to the fast growing body of literature on the subject. These guidelines are a continuum of the guidelines suggested by the Indian Resuscitation Council in 2017 and herein only the salient features that are specific to the Covid-19 patients.