Ways to improve outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. How to monitor patients, correct dysrhythmias.

Noninvasive monitoring techniques for assessing circulation during CPR include thoracic electrical bioimpedance and measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide. Many dysrhythmias can be corrected with portable devices, such as automatic external defibrillation pacers, or with automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or external transcutaneous cardiac pacers. Bradycardia is treated, however, only if it is accompanied by hemodynamically significant hypotension or ventricular ectopy. Adenosine may be preferable to verapamil for the management of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Three consecutive energy discharges are now recommended for the management of ventricular fibrillation.