Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be a basic skill for every intensive care physician. An estimated 200,000 individuals suffer from in-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States each year.1,2 Half of these incidents occur in intensive care units (ICUs).3 Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) can be achieved in 40-50% of patients resuscitated in-hospital, yet only 15-20% survive to be discharged. 3,4 © 2010 Springer-Verlag US.