Have the latest CPR guidelines improved cardiac arrest outcomes?

S ince the Standards for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care were introduced in 1974, several updates to these guidelines have been issued.1-7 Over this time, the guidelines have come full circle, moving from simple to complicated to simple again. This article compares changes to the guidelines over the years, presenting the evidence and reasoning behind the changes. Current outcomes data are discussed, with emphasis on what is effective in improving survival. The article stresses the importance of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation, and the need to train the lay public to recognize cardiac arrest and implement CPR.