A three phase temporal model for cardiopulmonary resuscitation following cardiac arrest.

Data from a wide variety of studies suggests that survival from cardiac arrest is very much dependent on the implementation of therapeutic maneuvers in a sequence. Emphasis is on the time from the onset of cardiac arrest to the beginning of resuscitative maneuvers. For example, the optimal timing of defibrillation in a patient with ventricular fibrillation is one major issue, but is in part dependent upon having a defibrillating device available. As well, providing artificial circulation requires the presence of a bystander or a resuscitation team ready and willing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At some point resuscitation includes dealing with the metabolic consequences of prolonged cardiac arrest. This may require drugs or agents that mitigate the longer term consequences of metabolic factors that arise after cardiac arrest and a prolonged period of ischemia.