Precision Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Based on Etiology

Abstract

Cardiac arrest results from a broad range of etiologies that can be broadly grouped as sudden and asphyxial. Animal studies point to differences in injury pathways invoked in the heart and brain that drive injury and outcome after these different forms of cardiac arrest. Present guidelines largely ignore etiology in their management recommendations. Existing clinical data reveal significant heterogeneity in the utility of presently employed resuscitation and postresuscitation strategies based on etiology. The development of future neuroprotective and cardioprotective therapies should also take etiology into consideration to optimize the chances for successful translation.

Keywords: Asphyxia; Cardiac arrest; Etiology; Global ischemia; Hypoxia-ischemia; Sudden cardiac death; Ventricular fibrillation.