Adult cardiac arrest in general practice.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
To review the management principles for basic and advanced adult cardiac life support measures for cardiac arrest.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Rashford
Stephen
S
Holy Spirit Northside Hospital, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland. rashford@bigpond.com
D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011793:Queensland; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*