Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

WITHIN the last decade there has been an increased effort on the part of surgical teams to recognize acute cardiac arrest on the operating table. There are very few emergencies that require such prompt treatment. Few patients can survive the anoxia produced by more than three minutes of cardiac standstill.1 , 2 To re-establish circulation within this brief period the anesthetist must recognize or suspect the condition and immediately notify the surgeon. It is preferable to be mistaken on many occasions than to lose time in a case of true arrest. The surgeon, if working in the abdomen or chest, must quickly . . .