Description
Synopsis
The ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in dogs and cats is an essential skill for small animal practitioners, as cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) will be rapidly followed by death, unless it is immediately recognised and CPR promptly implemented.
Even so, the chances of achieving a favourable outcome are fairly poor. Understanding the potential causes of CPA, and signs of impending CPA, are important in preventing an arrest situation and the need for CPR. Given the fairly poor prognosis, consideration should also be given to the individual animal and situation – sometimes aggressive CPR efforts are required and appropriate, but on occasion CPR may not be in the animal’s best interests. This can be a difficult moral decision, and prior discussion of the owner’s wishes is frequently helpful.
To give the best possible chance of success, the practice team should be trained in following a pre-planned CPR protocol. The readiness of equipment and drugs in an arrest situation will also have a positive effect on the outcome.
The techniques of basic and advanced life support are covered in this webinar, and the importance of appropriate post-resuscitative care discussed. The most recent evidence-based guidelines produced by the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) initiative are included and any major changes in practice highlighted.
Following the webinar, delegates should feel confident to create their own practice ‘crash plan’, taking the aspects of basic and advanced life support that are possible in their own situation, and developing CPR training sessions appropriate to the practice facilities. This will give the best chance of a favourable outcome in the (hopefully infrequent) situations where up-to-date CPR skills are required to prevent death following CPA.
Learning objectives
After this webinar you should be able to:
identify CPA in dogs & cats and suggest possible causes
evaluate the likely outcome of CPR and discuss whether or not it should be employed in different situations
perform Basic Life Support (BLS)
interpret the ECG and perform Advanced Life Support (ALS)
explain the importance of post-resuscitative care
update your own CPR protocols & crash box, and instigate practice training sessions