On the history of modern resuscitation

Abstract

The development of modern cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) has given every person the ability to challenge death anywhere. Despite sparks of knowledge and occasional applications of possibly effective lifesaving efforts since antiquity, the possibility to reverse acute terminal states or clinical death by modern, physiologically sound, and effective measures did not come about until around 1900 inside hospitals, and around 1960 outside hospitals. Additional potentially effective cerebral resuscitation, researched since around 1970, may be taken to clinical trials before the year 2000. The history of resuscitation medicine around 1900, when many opportunities to assemble existing bits of knowledge into an effective system were missed, should be a warning for those individuals who will lead CPCR beyond the year 2000. History has shown the need for continuing communication and collaboration among investigators of different countries, and between laboratory researchers, clinicians of various disciplines, and prehospital rescuers. The lessons learned from history, for research challenges in the near future, include: a) the development of ultra-advanced life support to be initiated outside the hospital, to bridge cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-resistant cases to definitive cardiac procedures in the hospital; and b) cerebral resuscitation to complete recovery after 10 to 15 mins of normothermic cardiac arrest without blood flow. Both challenges above will require research projects at multiple levels - from the molecular and cellular levels, to the use of small and large animal models (with organs' and organisms' process and outcome evaluations), to studies of patients and communities. Beyond the year 2000, resuscitation research might become more challenging and cost-effective in the area of multiple trauma, which concerns the young and fit. Research challenges concerning brain trauma, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock, and "suspended animation" for delayed resuscitation have their own histories, and are not covered here. The author apologizes for not having recognized many important contributors to the history of CPCR because of space constraints or lack of knowledge about such contributions. Input on this subject from readers of this paper is hereby invited. Copyright © 1996 by Williams & Wilkins.