Adult cardiac arrest in general practice
Rashford, S.
Australian Family Physician 31(9): 796-801
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8495 PMID: 12402694 Document Number: 543248
Out of hospital cardiac arrest victims contribute significantly to adult mortality figures but are encountered infrequently by most general practitioners and their staff. A number of scientific organisations produce guidelines for the basic and advanced management of cardiac arrest. To review the management principles for basic and advanced adult cardiac life support measures for cardiac arrest. General practitioners are required to manage cardiac arrest victims infrequently. The initiation of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the rapid defibrillation of suitable cardiac rhythms determine a favourable outcome. All staff working at a surgery must be skilled in basic life support. The GP needs an understanding of advanced life support principles.