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Cardiac arrest in children

Erika E Tress1, Patrick M Kochanek, Richard A Saladino

  • 1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Critical Care Medicine, 3434 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 152 60, USA.

Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock
|October 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Recent advances in pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) include better understanding of CA phases and post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Hypothermia is a recommended therapy for comatose patients following CA.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Resuscitation Science

Background:

  • The last decade has seen significant progress in pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) research.
  • Key developments include the pediatric Utstein guidelines and multicenter collaborations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review landmark articles on pediatric CA from the past decade.
  • To present current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of pediatric CA.

Main Methods:

  • Review of landmark articles published in the last decade concerning pediatric cardiac arrest.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on pediatric CA epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Epidemiology and pathophysiology of in-hospital and out-of-hospital pediatric CA are well-described.
  • The concept of "post-cardiac arrest syndrome" and its four phases has been proposed.
  • Hypothermia is recommended for comatose patients post-CA, with ongoing large-scale studies.

Conclusions:

  • Significant advancements have been made in understanding and managing pediatric cardiac arrest.
  • Current knowledge supports defined treatment goals for the four phases of post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
  • Further research, including multicenter prospective studies, is crucial for optimizing outcomes.

Keywords:
Cardiac arrestcardiopulmonary resuscitationemergency medicinepediatrics

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