Vascular access and drug therapy in pediatric resuscitation

Using the evidence brought together through the 2005 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation evidence evaluation process and the subsequent 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, the role for specific drug therapy in pediatric cardiac arrest is outlined. The drugs discussed include epinephrine, vasopressin, calcium, sodium bicarbonate, atropine, magnesium, and glucose. The literature addressing how best to deliver these drugs to the critically ill child is also presented, specifically looking at the use of intraosseous and endotracheal drug therapy.