Paediatrics: Cardiopulmonary arrest

Cardiopulmonary arrest

Cardiopulmonary arrest in children often develops as a progression of res-piratory failure and shock. The outcome of out-of-hospital arrest is poor, but respiratory arrest alone is associated with a rate of survival of 80%.

In hospital, even though unexpected cardiac arrest is now a rare event (1 per 5000 paediatric admissions), it is important that events or signs that may lead to arrest are recognized early. Children with any of the features in Table 4.1 warrant urgent medical review.