[Trends in cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

Less than 10% of those individuals who suffer an episode of sudden cardiac arrest are successfully resuscitated and return home to live productive lives. New approaches to cardiac resuscitation could substantially improve such dismal outcome. Four current trends that have the greatest potential for improving outcome can be recognized in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): (1) systems to prevent cardiac arrests through recognition of early warning signs and timely intervention, (2) a shift towards a flow-based resuscitation emphasizing the delivery of high-quality uninterrupted CPR limiting the role of ventilation, (3) the growing role of technology in driving resuscitation interventions, incrementally enhancing the human decision-making process, and (4) the use of hypothermia.