Ventilation and Oxygenation During and After Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Changing Paradigms

Cardiac arrest (CA) remains a major cause of death despite advancements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), post-resuscitation care, and international efforts to develop evidence-based guidelines. Effectively managing ventilation and oxygenation during and after CPR is vital for patient survival and neurological outcomes, yet it remains a challenging task. This review examines current strategies for ventilation and oxygenation during and after CPR, focusing on evidence-based guidelines, the balance between ventilation effectiveness and risks, and proposed methods for monitoring ventilation quality. It emphasizes the need to provide adequate ventilation and oxygenation during and after CPR while avoiding hyperventilation and hypoventilation, which can negatively impact resuscitation and post-CA outcomes. The review also explores mechanical ventilation as an alternative to manual methods and the use of feedback devices. The impact of post-CA ventilation and oxygenation on patient outcomes and recommended management strategies are discussed. Finally, the review highlights current gaps in the literature and the need for more well-designed large clinical studies, such as the impact of different ventilation variables (tidal volume and breathing frequency) on the return of spontaneous circulation and long-term outcomes.