Feline cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Getting the most out of all nine lives

Practical relevance: Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) can occur in any veterinary or animal care setting and is a particular risk in scenarios involving ill, injured or anesthetized patients. Education of all staff on the prevention and recognition of CPA, as well as the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), is vital to influencing outcome. Evidence base: While there is a plethora of information regarding CPA and CPR in human medicine, there are comparably few studies in the veterinary literature. Many of the current veterinary guidelines are extrapolated from human medicine or studies based on animal models. Ongoing work is needed to tailor guidelines and recommendations to our domestic feline (and canine) patients in a clinical setting. Aim: The aim of this article, which is intended for veterinarians in all areas of small animal practice, is to provide an evidence-based review of CPA and CPR in feline patients. The authors have drawn heavily on detailed recommendations published by the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) initiative - one of the few resources specific to the veterinary clinical setting - as well as reviewing the available peer-reviewed literature studies, in constructing this article. Among the topics discussed are recognizing and preventing CPA, staff training and clinic preparedness, basic life support and advanced life support interventions, and appropriate post-cardiac arrest care.

Automated summary

CPR education for all staff is crucial in veterinary settings, especially when dealing with ill, injured or anesthetized animals. While current veterinary guidelines are often extrapolated from human medicine, further work is needed to tailor recommendations to domestic feline and canine patients. This article aims to provide an evidence-based review of CPA and CPR in feline patients, drawing heavily from initiatives like RECOVER and peer-reviewed literature studies.