MASTERING PEDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION

Premature and unexpected death, especially in children, is tragic and very unacceptable. Effective treatments for sudden death of pediatric patients continue to emerge. Modem cardiopulmonary resuscitation funct ion began with the widespread introduction of closed-chest cardiac mas sage in 1960; however, despite 35 years of research and refinement, mo re than 90% of children who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation do n ot survive, This article summarizes and expands on current treatment c oncepts for pediatric sudden death. Emphasis is placed on procedures a nd techniques that likely are accessible in most medical centers carin g for critically ill and injured children.