Monitoring during resuscitation

Use of many different types of monitors during resuscitation has been described in the literature. These monitors differ in their usefulness, technical feasibility, initial costs, and long-term costs (Table 4). There have been many published reports of CPR success rates in the hospital and in the pre-hospital setting. In spite of considerable advances in technology over the past 30 years, survival from CPR has changed little over that time. Although numerous types of monitoring during resuscitation are possible, and sometimes useful, the impact of expensive technology on ultimate outcome (survival) must be critically evaluated.