Emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A fifteen-month experience in a general hospital.

Results under a resuscitation program in a general hospital in which the entire house staff is capable of functioning as a team in emergency, bear out the effectiveness of prompt action in cardiopulmonary or other life-threatening emergencies. Such a program remains important in spite of the salutary trend toward coronary care units. Both emergency and definitive therapy must be accomplished without delay. A house staff is necessary for an effective emergency resuscitation program. Paramedical personnel must be instructed to recognize an emergency and immediately institute life-sustaining therapy. Definitive therapy must be applied as soon as possible. The entire house staff, rather than a specially organized team, should be trained in the techniques of definitive therapy. Consideration should be given to immediate defibrillation following diagnosis of cardiac arrest as an early step in definitive therapy.