Cardiac Arrest in Children - aetiology

There are two types of cardiac arrest in adults, and children.

Primary Cardiorespiratory Arrest: due to an underlying cardiac arrhythmia (eg VF or VT) is more frequent in adults. The onset is often acute and unpredictable. Immediate defibrillation is needed.

Secondary Cardiorespiratory Arrest is more common in children and is because the body can't deal with the underlying injury or illness.
The pre-terminal rhythm in children is often bradycardia which leads to asystole or PEA - non shockable rhythms.

The outcome from cardiorespiratory arrest in children is poor, especially if there is a prolonged duration. Compared to adults, children are physiologically different but like adults, early recognition of the seriously ill child can prevent sudden death.

Some conditions are more likely to affect children than adults, and more likely to cause their arrest:
Croup: remember a narrower tracheal tube than would normally be expected may be required.
Epiglottitis: you must keep the child calm until the airway is secure.
Bronchiolitis
Coma
Seizures
Anaphylaxis: give adrenaline as quickly as possible

Drowning, electrocution and hypothermia can also affect children, and cause cardio-respiratory arrest. In an arrest situation, the standard CPR algorithms should be followed.

Survival rates remain poor, with survival rates of 0 - 38% quoted in the literature.