Cardiorespiratory arrest and resuscitation of children
D. E. Torphy, M. G. Minter and B. M. Thompson
Ninety-one patients had cardiorespiratory arrest in a children's hospital
emergency department over six years. Only five children survived, three
with severe neurologic sequelae. The records of 40 other children in the
same community resuscitated by paramedics, but taken to other hospitals,
were reviewed and there were three survivors. The causes and outcomes of
resuscitation of children are clearly different from those of adults.
Cardiac disease and ventricular arrhythmias are uncommon. Neurologically
intact survival was seen only in those children who received immediate
resuscitation and responded promptly. Research in cerebral resuscitation at
the cellular level is promising for the future. Prevention of some
cardiorespiratory arrests through accident prevention and earlier
recognition of serious infections is possible now.
