Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation

Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is defined as the abrupt and unexpected cessat ion of spontaneous and effective ventilation and circulation. CPA can be th e natural ending of a normal and long life, however, when CPA is the result of a reversible problem in an animal that has a treatable medical conditio n, rapid recognition and treatment may make the difference between a happy ending and premature death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation provides artifici al ventilation and circulation until advanced cardiac life support can be p rovided and spontaneous cardiopulmonary function is restored. The term card iopulmonary cerebral resuscitation originated in the early 1960s in recogni tion of the severe central nervous system complications of prolonged cardia c arrest in human beings. Although neurologic complications of CPA may not be as noticeable in companion animals, newer brain-sparing strategies that recognize the consequences of reperfusion injury and the inflammatory casca de may some day offer improved survival.