The 1998 European Resuscitation Council guidelines for adult advanced life support: A statement from the Working Group on Advanced Life Support, and approved by the executive committee of the European Resuscitation Council

Abstract

The publication of guidelines for advanced life support (ALS) by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) in 1992 was a landmark in international co-operation and co-ordination [ 1 Guidelines for advanced life support. A statement by the advanced life support working party of the European Resuscitation Council, 1992. Resuscitation 1992;24:111–21. Google Scholar ]. Previously, individual countries or groups had produced guidelines [ 2 Standards and guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC). J Am Med Assoc 1986;255:2905–89. Google Scholar ]but for the first time an international group of experts produced consensus views based on the best available information. Since 1992, even wider international collaboration and support has occurred. In particular, the establishment of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) has facilitated global co-operation and discussion between representatives from North America, Europe, Southern Africa, Australia, and most recently Latin America. The Advisory Statement produced in 1997 by ILCOR forms the basis for these guidelines [ 3 The ALS working group of the International advisory Committee on Resuscitation. The Universal Algorithm. Resuscitation 1997;34:109–11. Google Scholar ].