[News in hemodynamic monitoring, resuscitation and intensive care of patients after cardiac surgery: "Guidelines for resuscitation in cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery" of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery].

In order to simplify and to standardize procedures during cardiac arrest in patients after cardiac surgery and for professional medical staff education, working group of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery issued in 2009 "Guideline for resuscitation in cardiac arest after cardiac surgery". There are several differences between these guidelines and guidelines for general population: in ventricular fibrillation, three sequential attempts at defibrillation should precede external cardiac massage; in asystole or extreme bradycardia, pacing should precede external cardiac massage. Where the above measures fail, and in pulseless electrical activity, early resternotomy is advocated.