Controversies in resuscitation

Many controversies, only a few of which have been discussed here, are now raging in the field of resuscitation. Much is expected to change in the next five to ten years. The American Heart Association is now considering changes for its new advanced cardiac life support course, which should be ready this year. The course will not include some of the possible changes mentioned in this article, because too few studies have been done. Physicians and other rescuers should abide by the guidelines of the American Heart Association as a standard of practice because its recommendations are the result of the best possible consensus. Over the next several years, many exciting changes in resuscitation will occur and may lead to improved survival rates and quality.