Updates in theAmericanHeartAssociation guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and potential applications to veterinary patients

Abstract

The prognosis for any patient undergoing cardiopulmonary arrest remains guarded.

Prelude to RECOVER: Time is up for veterinary CPR guidelines

“…This issue of the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care features a review by Maton and Smarick of the updates made to the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) CPR guidelines and the relevance of those guidelines to veterinary CPR. 1 The authors succeed in highlighting the most relevant changes in the AHA CPR guidelines. Probably as important, the review also provides a great introductory 'hook' that eloquently and concisely describes the potential pitfalls of applying human CPR guidelines to dogs and cats.…”

“…This issue of the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care features a review by Maton and Smarick of the updates made to the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) CPR guidelines and the relevance of those guidelines to veterinary CPR . The authors succeed in highlighting the most relevant changes in the AHA CPR guidelines.…”

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in small animals

“…Mild hypothermia (core body temperature 32 to 34 o C) for 24 to 48 hours postresuscitation has been shown to improve outcome in human clinical trials (Maton and Smarick 2012). Inducing hypothermia (active cooling of the patient using surface-cooling blankets, endovascular-cooling catheters, sedation and neuromuscular blockade) in postarrest human patients is increasingly common and may be beneficial by decreasing tissue oxygen demand and reducing neurological impairment.…”

Changes in adherence to cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines in a single referral center from January 2009 to June 2013 and assessment of factors contributing to the observed changes

“…Historically, evidence‐based guidelines for best practice for veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for dogs and cats were not available. Suggestions for CPR were extrapolated from human medicine and from expert veterinary opinion with no definitive recommendations . An Internet‐based study showed there to be considerable variation in CPR techniques used across general and referral practices .…”

“…Suggestions for CPR were extrapolated from human medicine and from expert veterinary opinion with no definitive recommendations. 1,2 An Internet-based study showed there to be considerable variation in CPR techniques used across general and referral practices. 3 It has been suggested that this disparity in techniques was in part due to a lack of accepted, evidence-based guidelines for…”