Pediatric basic life support: scientific evidences

Abstract

Introduction: high quality cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is the main step to impro­ve outcomes. Guidelines for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation are timely reviewed by the American Heart Association. Objective: this study aimed to explore the following re­commendations: cardiopulmonary rehabilitation quality; the C-A-B sequence; use of an external defibrillator, and the level of evidence for pediatric basic life support recommen­dations. Data source: search on PubMed and on BVS using the keywords ‘basic life su­pport’, ‘guidelines’, ‘children’. A secondary search was made. Data synthesis: basic life support in children include C-A-B sequence which is simple and follow adult recommen­dations (class IIb); high quality resuscitation with a 5cm depth (class IIa) and a frequency of 100-120bpm (class IIa) and the use of an external defibrillator (class IIb) are strategies to improve the prognosis of patients. The utilization of an external defibrillator for children is still less often. Conclusions: many recommendations made for children are derived from single studies or weak evidence or, are an extension of adult recommendations. Although American Heart Association guidelines are worldwide recommended, quality of resusci­tation may improve. Multicentral studies that explore the real impact of those strategies for children are desire.