Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD

Guest: Michael Sayre, MD

Following a March 2008 scientific advisory published in the journal Circulation, bystanders are now formally encouraged to immediately perform continuous chest compressions as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in some cases of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Michael Sayre, associate professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and lead author of this advisory, shares his insight on the newest CPR guidelines. What are the current survival rates after an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest, and how might they improve with this advisory? With the next review of the CPR guidelines scheduled for 2010, what can we expect from the CPR discussion until then?