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Anesthesiology356 papers

Cardiac arrest during procedure

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Cardiac arrest during procedures, particularly in anesthesia settings, represents a critical emergency requiring immediate intervention to restore cardiac function and ensure patient survival. 1229

Diagnosis

  • Rapid assessment of responsiveness, breathing, and circulation.
  • Immediate initiation of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocols if cardiac arrest is confirmed.
  • Post-arrest evaluation includes ECG, blood gas analysis, and core temperature monitoring to guide further management. 1229
  • Management

  • First-line treatments:
  • - High-quality CPR with uninterrupted chest compressions. - Early defibrillation for shockable rhythms (VF/VT). - Administration of epinephrine (1mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes).
  • Adjunctive treatments:
  • - Consideration of vasopressors (e.g., norepinephrine) for persistent hypotension. - Targeted temperature management (hypothermia) post-resuscitation if initial return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved. - Airway management including securing the airway and intubation if necessary. 122936

    Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Tailored CPR techniques (e.g., lower compression depth, rate adjustments). Use of pediatric-specific medications and equipment. 12
  • Elderly: Focus on minimizing secondary brain injury through rapid cooling protocols and careful fluid management to avoid fluid overload. 29
  • Comorbidities: Individualized approach considering underlying conditions (e.g., coronary artery disease, arrhythmias) and their specific management needs. 36
  • Key Recommendations

  • Initiate high-quality CPR immediately upon recognition of cardiac arrest, with minimal interruptions for interventions. (Evidence: Strong 12)
  • Administer epinephrine early and repeatedly every 3-5 minutes during resuscitation efforts. (Evidence: Strong 12)
  • Implement targeted temperature management to 32-36°C for at least 24 hours post-ROSC to improve neurological outcomes. (Evidence: Moderate 29)
  • Ensure rapid and appropriate airway management, including securing the airway if necessary. (Evidence: Moderate 36)
  • Tailor resuscitation strategies based on patient age and comorbidities to optimize outcomes. (Evidence: Expert opinion 122936)
  • References

    1 Loh KH, Roberts CC, Hester DL, Rice MJ, Sandberg WS, Mishra KL. A Peer-Guided, Efficient Approach for Recruiting Academic Anesthesiologists. A&A practice 2026. link 2 Henschke N, Probyn K, Buckley B, McIntosh H, Sguassero Y, Cogo E et al.. The role of non-physician providers of anaesthesia: a systematic review. British journal of anaesthesia 2025. link 3 Webster CS. Psychology in the operating theatre: the importance of colour and cognition in the redesign of clinical systems for medication safety. British journal of anaesthesia 2024. link 4 Khuwaja A, Tabassum R, Soomro A, Diloo R, Kumar K, Ahmed J et al.. Assessment of anaesthesia workforce capacity in district and tehsil (taluka) hospitals in Sindh province of Pakistan: a survey. BMJ open 2023. link 5 McCreedy A, Wacker J, Ffrench-O'Carroll R, Berthelsen KG, Kremeňova Tatičová Z, Smith AF. Patient safety practices in European anaesthesiology: Expert evaluation and ranking. European journal of anaesthesiology 2023. link 6 Shahbaz S, Zakar R, Howard N. Anaesthesia provision challenges in public hospitals of Pakistan's Punjab province: a qualitative study of expert perspectives. BMJ open 2023. link 7 Kelly FE, Frerk C, Bailey CR, Cook TM, Ferguson K, Flin R et al.. Implementing human factors in anaesthesia: guidance for clinicians, departments and hospitals: Guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society and the Association of Anaesthetists: Guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society and the Association of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia 2023. link 8 Pereira FSH, Garcia DB, Ribeiro ER. Identifying patient safety competences among anesthesiology residents: systematic review. Brazilian journal of anesthesiology (Elsevier) 2022. link 9 Biro J, Rucks M, Neyens DM, Coppola S, Abernathy JH, Catchpole KR. Medication errors, critical incidents, adverse drug events, and more: a review examining patient safety-related terminology in anaesthesia. British journal of anaesthesia 2022. link 10 Kang J, Hu J, Yan C, Xing X, Tu S, Zhou F. Development and applications of the anaesthetists' non-technical skills behavioural marker system: protocol for a systematic review. BMJ open 2022. link 11 Loughnan TE, Cooper MG, Wake PB, Aigeeleng H. History of non-physician anaesthesia providers in Papua New Guinea: from heil tultuls to Anaesthetic Scientific Officers. Anaesthesia and intensive care 2021. link 12 Mace SE, Ulintz A, Peterson B, Nowacki AS, Worley J, Zamborsky S. Fifteen Years' Experience With Safe and Effective Procedural Sedation in Infants and Children in a General Emergency Department. Pediatric emergency care 2021. link 13 Vano E, Rm SC, Jm FS. Helping to know if you are properly protected while working in interventional cardiology. Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection 2020. link 14 Le Mitouard M, Gaucher L, Huissoud C, Gaucherand P, Rudigoz RC, Dupont C et al.. Decision-delivery intervals: Impact of a colour code protocol for emergency caesareans. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 2020. link 15 Mossenson AI, Tuyishime E, Rawson D, Mukwesi C, Whynot S, Mackinnon SP et al.. Promoting anaesthetisia providers' non-technical skills through the Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST) course in a low-resource setting. British journal of anaesthesia 2020. link 16 Montandrau O, Espitalier F, Bouyou J, Laffon M, Remérand F. Thiopental versus propofol on the outcome of the newborn after caesarean section: An impact study. Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine 2019. link 17 Edgcombe H, Baxter LS, Kudsk-Iversen S, Thwaites V, Bulamba F. Training non-physician anaesthetists in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative investigation of providers' perspectives. BMJ open 2019. link 18 Patabendige M, Jayawardane A. Foley catheter for cervical priming in induction of labour at University Obstetrics Unit, Colombo, Sri Lanka: a clinical audit with a patient satisfaction survey. BMC research notes 2017. link 19 Chin M, Lagasse RS. Assessment of competence: developing trends and ethical considerations. Current opinion in anaesthesiology 2017. link 20 Stevic M, Ristic N, Budic I, Ladjevic N, Trifunovic B, Rakic I et al.. Comparison of ketamine and ketofol for deep sedation and analgesia in children undergoing laser procedure. Lasers in medical science 2017. link 21 Williams A, Ruddock Y. Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 1: the use of bispectral index monitoring (BIS) in conscious sedation. Emergency medicine journal : EMJ 2015. link 22 Bashford T. Anaesthesia in Ethiopia: providers' perspectives on the current state of the service. Tropical doctor 2014. link 23 Reed S, Arnal D, Frank O, Gomez-Arnau JI, Hansen J, Lester O et al.. National critical incident reporting systems relevant to anaesthesia: a European survey. British journal of anaesthesia 2014. link 24 Dubowitz G, Evans FM. Developing a curriculum for anaesthesia training in low- and middle-income countries. Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology 2012. link 25 Schleppers A, Prien T, Van Aken H. Helsinki Declaration on patient safety in anaesthesiology: putting words into practice - experience in Germany. Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology 2011. link 26 Tetzlaff JE. Assessment of competence in anesthesiology. Current opinion in anaesthesiology 2009. link 27 Kheterpal S, Tremper K, Shanks A, Morris M. Seventh and eighth year follow-up on workforce and finances of the United States anesthesiology training programs: 2007 and 2008. Anesthesia and analgesia 2009. link 28 Dolan J, Lucie P, Geary T, Smith M, Kenny GN. The rectus sheath block: accuracy of local anesthetic placement by trainee anesthesiologists using loss of resistance or ultrasound guidance. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine 2009. link 29 Weller JM, Merry AF, Robinson BJ, Warman GR, Janssen A. The impact of trained assistance on error rates in anaesthesia: a simulation-based randomised controlled trial. Anaesthesia 2009. link 30 Zimmerman M, Lee M, Retnaraj S. Non-doctor anaesthesia in Nepal: developing an essential cadre. Tropical doctor 2008. link 31 Merry AF, Weller JM, Robinson BJ, Warman GR, Davies E, Shaw J et al.. A simulation design for research evaluating safety innovations in anaesthesia. Anaesthesia* 2008. link 32 Hodges SC, Mijumbi C, Okello M, McCormick BA, Walker IA, Wilson IH. Anaesthesia services in developing countries: defining the problems. Anaesthesia 2007. link 33 Shangraw RE, Whitten CW. Managing intergenerational differences in academic anesthesiology. Current opinion in anaesthesiology 2007. link 34 Tremper KK, Shanks A, Morris M. Five-year follow-up on the work force and finances of United States anesthesiology training programs: 2000 to 2005. Anesthesia and analgesia 2007. link 35 Shabanie A. Conscious sedation for interventional procedures: a practical guide. Techniques in vascular and interventional radiology 2006. link 36 Brown TB, Lovato LM, Parker D. Procedural sedation in the acute care setting. American family physician 2005. link 37 Katz JD. Do anesthesiologists die at a younger age than other physicians? Age-adjusted death rates. Anesthesia and analgesia 2004. link 38 Sonnad SS, Moyer CA, Bernstein SJ. Comparing physician and administrator responses to cesarean section guidelines and actual practice. The Joint Commission journal on quality improvement 2000. link26043-4) 39 Eichhorn JH. The standards formulation process. European journal of anaesthesiology. Supplement 1993. link 40 Neufeld PD, Johnson DL, deVeth J. Safety of anaesthesia breathing circuit connectors. Canadian Anaesthetists' Society journal 1983. link

    Original source

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      A Peer-Guided, Efficient Approach for Recruiting Academic Anesthesiologists.Loh KH, Roberts CC, Hester DL, Rice MJ, Sandberg WS, Mishra KL A&A practice (2026)
    2. [2]
      The role of non-physician providers of anaesthesia: a systematic review.Henschke N, Probyn K, Buckley B, McIntosh H, Sguassero Y, Cogo E et al. British journal of anaesthesia (2025)
    3. [3]
    4. [4]
      Assessment of anaesthesia workforce capacity in district and tehsil (taluka) hospitals in Sindh province of Pakistan: a survey.Khuwaja A, Tabassum R, Soomro A, Diloo R, Kumar K, Ahmed J et al. BMJ open (2023)
    5. [5]
      Patient safety practices in European anaesthesiology: Expert evaluation and ranking.McCreedy A, Wacker J, Ffrench-O'Carroll R, Berthelsen KG, Kremeňova Tatičová Z, Smith AF European journal of anaesthesiology (2023)
    6. [6]
    7. [7]
    8. [8]
      Identifying patient safety competences among anesthesiology residents: systematic review.Pereira FSH, Garcia DB, Ribeiro ER Brazilian journal of anesthesiology (Elsevier) (2022)
    9. [9]
      Medication errors, critical incidents, adverse drug events, and more: a review examining patient safety-related terminology in anaesthesia.Biro J, Rucks M, Neyens DM, Coppola S, Abernathy JH, Catchpole KR British journal of anaesthesia (2022)
    10. [10]
    11. [11]
      History of non-physician anaesthesia providers in Papua New Guinea: from heil tultuls to Anaesthetic Scientific Officers.Loughnan TE, Cooper MG, Wake PB, Aigeeleng H Anaesthesia and intensive care (2021)
    12. [12]
      Fifteen Years' Experience With Safe and Effective Procedural Sedation in Infants and Children in a General Emergency Department.Mace SE, Ulintz A, Peterson B, Nowacki AS, Worley J, Zamborsky S Pediatric emergency care (2021)
    13. [13]
      Helping to know if you are properly protected while working in interventional cardiology.Vano E, Rm SC, Jm FS Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection (2020)
    14. [14]
      Decision-delivery intervals: Impact of a colour code protocol for emergency caesareans.Le Mitouard M, Gaucher L, Huissoud C, Gaucherand P, Rudigoz RC, Dupont C et al. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology (2020)
    15. [15]
      Promoting anaesthetisia providers' non-technical skills through the Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST) course in a low-resource setting.Mossenson AI, Tuyishime E, Rawson D, Mukwesi C, Whynot S, Mackinnon SP et al. British journal of anaesthesia (2020)
    16. [16]
      Thiopental versus propofol on the outcome of the newborn after caesarean section: An impact study.Montandrau O, Espitalier F, Bouyou J, Laffon M, Remérand F Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine (2019)
    17. [17]
      Training non-physician anaesthetists in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative investigation of providers' perspectives.Edgcombe H, Baxter LS, Kudsk-Iversen S, Thwaites V, Bulamba F BMJ open (2019)
    18. [18]
    19. [19]
      Assessment of competence: developing trends and ethical considerations.Chin M, Lagasse RS Current opinion in anaesthesiology (2017)
    20. [20]
      Comparison of ketamine and ketofol for deep sedation and analgesia in children undergoing laser procedure.Stevic M, Ristic N, Budic I, Ladjevic N, Trifunovic B, Rakic I et al. Lasers in medical science (2017)
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      National critical incident reporting systems relevant to anaesthesia: a European survey.Reed S, Arnal D, Frank O, Gomez-Arnau JI, Hansen J, Lester O et al. British journal of anaesthesia (2014)
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      Developing a curriculum for anaesthesia training in low- and middle-income countries.Dubowitz G, Evans FM Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology (2012)
    25. [25]
      Helsinki Declaration on patient safety in anaesthesiology: putting words into practice - experience in Germany.Schleppers A, Prien T, Van Aken H Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology (2011)
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      Assessment of competence in anesthesiology.Tetzlaff JE Current opinion in anaesthesiology (2009)
    27. [27]
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      The rectus sheath block: accuracy of local anesthetic placement by trainee anesthesiologists using loss of resistance or ultrasound guidance.Dolan J, Lucie P, Geary T, Smith M, Kenny GN Regional anesthesia and pain medicine (2009)
    29. [29]
      The impact of trained assistance on error rates in anaesthesia: a simulation-based randomised controlled trial.Weller JM, Merry AF, Robinson BJ, Warman GR, Janssen A Anaesthesia (2009)
    30. [30]
      Non-doctor anaesthesia in Nepal: developing an essential cadre.Zimmerman M, Lee M, Retnaraj S Tropical doctor (2008)
    31. [31]
      A simulation design for research evaluating safety innovations in anaesthesia*.Merry AF, Weller JM, Robinson BJ, Warman GR, Davies E, Shaw J et al. Anaesthesia (2008)
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      Anaesthesia services in developing countries: defining the problems.Hodges SC, Mijumbi C, Okello M, McCormick BA, Walker IA, Wilson IH Anaesthesia (2007)
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      Managing intergenerational differences in academic anesthesiology.Shangraw RE, Whitten CW Current opinion in anaesthesiology (2007)
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    35. [35]
      Conscious sedation for interventional procedures: a practical guide.Shabanie A Techniques in vascular and interventional radiology (2006)
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      Procedural sedation in the acute care setting.Brown TB, Lovato LM, Parker D American family physician (2005)
    37. [37]
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      Comparing physician and administrator responses to cesarean section guidelines and actual practice.Sonnad SS, Moyer CA, Bernstein SJ The Joint Commission journal on quality improvement (2000)
    39. [39]
      The standards formulation process.Eichhorn JH European journal of anaesthesiology. Supplement (1993)
    40. [40]
      Safety of anaesthesia breathing circuit connectors.Neufeld PD, Johnson DL, deVeth J Canadian Anaesthetists' Society journal (1983)

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