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Book

Cardiopulmonary Arrest in Children

Kimberly Lovik  1 , Jun Sasaki  2 , Marjorie V. Launico  3
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan.
.
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Book

Cardiopulmonary Arrest in Children

Kimberly Lovik et al.
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Excerpt

Cardiopulmonary arrest in children is defined as the cessation of effective cardiac and respiratory function, resulting in inadequate oxygen delivery to the brain and other vital organs. Clinical indicators include the absence of a palpable central pulse, unresponsiveness, and apnea. Although uncommon in pediatric populations, cardiopulmonary arrest most frequently arises from respiratory failure or shock rather than primary cardiac disease. Early initiation of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) markedly improves survival and neurologic outcomes. The American Heart Association (AHA) periodically updates pediatric basic and advanced life support guidelines. Pediatric resuscitation principles are taught through the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Kimberly Lovik declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Jun Sasaki declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Marjorie Launico declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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