title: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: from the beginning to the present day.
abstract: Cardiac arrest represents a dramatic event that can occur suddenly and often without premonitory signs, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and breathing after cardiac output ceases and both coronary and cerebral blood flows stop. Restarting of the blood flow by cardiopulmonary resuscitation potentially re-establishes some cardiac output and organ blood flows. This article summarizes the major events that encompass the history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, beginning with ancient history and evolving into the current American Heart Association's commitment to save hearts.
authors.affiliation: Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine, 35100 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, USA.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ristagno
authors.forename: Wanchun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Max Harry
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Weil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000266:history; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D002415:Cats; D003422:Critical Care / Q000266:history; D004285:Dogs; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000266:history; D014943:Global Health; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy*; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000266:history