Clinical review: Devices and drugs for cardiopulmonary resuscitation – opportunities and restraints

The science and technology of CPR is only just emerging from its infancy. However, substantial improvements are anticipated, including the ability of lay rescuers to identify cardiac arrest promptly, the availability of additional measurements, and expanded intelligence provided by expanded AEDs with which to more effectively prompt the rescuer through the resuscitation procedure. Most important in our view is the ability to maintain uninterrupted precordial compression. Better timing and better waveforms for defibrillation are emerging. The recognition of the importance of postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and the selection of better vasopressor agents to minimize the adverse inotropic and chronotropic actions of adrenergic drugs are also likely to improve outcomes of CPR.