How to improve cardiac arrest in emergency and surgical ICU

All physicians are expected to attempt resuscitation of an individual with cardiac arrest. In the community, cardiac arrest most commonly is caused by ventricular fibrillation. However, heart rhythm at clinical presentation in many cases is unknown. As a consequence, operational criteria for cardiac arrest do not rely on heart rhythm but focus on the presumed sudden pulse-less condition and the absence of evidence of a non-cardiac condition as the cause of the arrest (Emergency Cardiac Care Committee et al., 1992).Aim of the work:The aim of the work is to list and discuss the possible causes of in-hospital cardiac arrest either in the emergency department or the surgical intensive care unit and explain common arrhythmias that may occur in the peri-arrest sitting and how to deal with.Also, recommended strategies for the prevention of avoidable in-hospital cardiac arrest.