Mechanical and Electrical Myocardial Support

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been a mainstay of immediate response to acute cardiorespiratory failure since it was first introduced by Kouwenhoven et al. in 1960. The goal of CPR is to maximize coronary and cerebral blood flow and to restore spontaneous circulation. To these ends, the principles are largely unchanged from earlier descriptions, although the understanding of the physiology underlying successful resuscitation continues to grow. In this brief review, we plan to review the physiologic basis of CPR, describe some newer concepts of circulatory adjuncts, detail the rationale for pharmacotherapy, and discuss the outcomes for patients who require CPR.