A brief overview of some of the changes of the American Heart Association's Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

The American Hospital Association's Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care 2005 were announced in November 2005. One of the most significant changes in the 2005 guidelines was the simplification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction, which emphasizes reducing the frequency and length of interruption of chest compressions and increasing the number of compressions delivered per minute. This article outlines the guidelines' recommendations with particular attention to defibrillation, cardiac arrest, and symptomatic bradycardia and tachycardia.