Automated external defibrillators are now increasingly placed where people congregate such as shopping malls, stadiums, casinos, exercise facilities, airports, and airplanes. They should be in the homes of patients at risk, because the majority of cardiac arrests occur in the home. Most important, a bag-valve mask and an artificial airway should be provided with the defibrillator. This would assist considerably with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which has its disadvantages. A miniature apparatus to compress the chest more adequately than the use of the arms would be an advantage.
Intravenous epinephrine has played an important role during the last 40 years and is the main vasopressor used in the management of cardiac arrest. Isoproterenol is contraindicated. Vasopressin is indicated only for VF and pulseless VT with a restriction to one dose. Neo-Synephrine and other agents have also been tried. New vasoactive agents are needed to cause cardiac contractions and produce adequate blood flow to vital organs.