[Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation : when and how should it be stopped ?].
Revue medicale suisse · 2026-08-19 · Other / unclear
Abstract
Managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest involves significant challenges, including the decision to discontinue resuscitation efforts, which requires a comprehensive assessment that takes into account the clinical history, prognostic factors, ethical considerations and the patient's wishes, as conveyed by their healthcare representative. The presence of clear signs of death or valid advance directives results in therapeutic abstention. The withdrawal of resuscitation efforts is based on the absence of spontaneous circulation, of a shockable rhythm and of any reversible causes. The role of capnography and cardiac POCUS in the decision-making process needs to be better defined. In some specific situations, resuscitation must be continued until the hospital. Resuscitation withdrawal is followed by a thorough examination of the body.