European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation: 2018 Update - Antiarrhythmic drugs for cardiac arrest

Abstract

This European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Guidelines for Resuscitation 2018 update is focused on the role of antiarrhythmic drugs during advanced life support for cardiac arrest with shock refractory ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia in adults, children and infants. This update follows the publication of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2018 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR). The ILCOR CoSTR suggests that any beneficial effects of amiodarone or lidocaine are similar. This ERC update does not make any major changes to the recommendations for the use of antiarrhythmic drugs during advanced life support for shock refractory cardiac arrest.

Keywords: Advanced life support; Amiodarone; Antiarrhythmic drugs; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Guidelines; Heart arrest; Lidocaine; Neonatal life support; Paediatric life support; Pulseless ventricular tachycardia; Ventricular fibrillation.