International standards for resuscitation

Initiated in America, committed cardiologists and anaesthetists have reached agreements worldwide with regard to questions of resuscitation. They all have the common aim to increase the chances of survival in particular of patients who suffer from an observed cardiac arrest and whom can be helped with immediate "life saving measures".

In an examination of the various recommendations for resuscitation worldwide it was determined that only a small number of these recommendations are based on scientifically sound examinations. Therefore, in a direct comparison it was not possible to decide in each case which of the recommendations is better if different practices were respectively classified as promising success. Therefore, a consensus was sought in an international working group, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and in August 2000 so-called "Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ..." were published. They are the first worldwide "International Consensus on Science".

The members agreed, to publish new Guidelines with the latest state of knowledge in a rate of five years.

Current issue: Guidelines 2005, published 28 November 2005

Consensus means "mutual conclusion", which can by all means be marked by opinions represented by majorities. Therefore, several opinions can be considered correct. The consensus initially only expresses the recommendation which is given precedence in the opinion of the international working group.

The publication, called "Guidelines" in American English, does not automatically replace the national "guidelines". The international recommendations must be compared with the respective prevailing opinions and recommendations in the individual nations so far before known knowledge and tried and tested practices are replaced. Such changes cannot be assigned suddenly to all people affected thereby and are only accepted with difficulty without understandable justification.

The same shall apply for the European variant of the international recommendations, which the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) published with summaries for individual areas and target groups under the title "Resuscitation Guidelines 2000".

The differences in detail must be compared with the traditional recommendations before the national Guidelines will be adapted and an expencive revision of teaching material will be started.

Members of ILCOR:

-        European Resuscitation Council (ERC)

-        American Heart Association (AHA)

-        InterAmerican Heart Foundation (CLAR)

-        Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC)

-        Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC)

-        New Zealand Resuscitation Council (NZRC)

-        Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa (RCSA)