You achieve return of spontaneous circulation after a cardiac arrest. The clock starts ticking. Your next decisions in the emergency department and ICU will determine whether your patient survives with good neurological function or faces severe disability. Yet post arrest care often lacks the systematic approach that CPR protocols provide. Without a structured bundle of interventions, critical targets get missed and outcomes suffer.
A standardized post cardiac arrest care bundle addresses this gap. It guides you through seven evidence-based steps from the moment ROSC occurs through to ICU discharge and beyond. Each step includes specific physiological targets and time-sensitive interventions that reduce secondary brain injury, prevent re-arrest, and optimize recovery. This bundle approach has been shown to improve both survival and functional outcomes when implemented consistently.
This guide walks you through the complete care pathway. You’ll get clear algorithms for airway management, haemodynamic optimization, temperature control, and neuroprognostication. We’ll cover the specific oxygen saturation ranges, blood pressure targets, and monitoring parameters that matter. By the end, you’ll have a practical checklist you can apply immediately to your next post arrest patient.
What a post cardiac arrest care bundle involves
A post cardiac arrest care bundle groups time-sensitive interventions into a systematic protocol that your team implements from the moment ROSC occurs. Each component targets a specific cause of secondary injury, from hypoxic brain damage to recurrent arrest. You don’t pick and choose elements based on preference. Instead, you apply all bundle components to every post arrest patient unless a clear contraindication exists.
Core bundle elements
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle addresses seven critical domains that determine outcome. These domains overlap in timing but each requires dedicated attention and monitoring:
- Airway and ventilation management (target SpO₂ 92-98%, PaCO₂ 35-45 mmHg)
- Haemodynamic optimization (target MAP ≥65 mmHg, lactate clearance)
- Temperature control (normothermia or mild hypothermia 32-36°C for 24 hours)
- Cause identification (ECG, coronary angiography, CT imaging)
- Seizure prevention and detection (continuous EEG monitoring)
- Glucose control (target 6-10 mmol/L, avoid hypoglycaemia)
- Prognostication and rehabilitation planning (72 hours minimum before withdrawal decisions)
The bundle approach reduces variation in care delivery and ensures no critical intervention gets overlooked during the chaotic post arrest period.
Implementation timeline
Bundle activation begins within minutes of ROSC and continues for at least 72 hours. You initiate airway and haemodynamic interventions immediately in the emergency department. Temperature management starts within the first hour. Diagnostic investigations to identify the arrest cause run parallel to stabilization efforts. Your ICU team maintains vigilant monitoring for complications like seizures, recurrent arrhythmias, and multi-organ dysfunction. The final prognostication phase occurs no earlier than 72 hours after achieving normothermia, allowing sedation to clear and neurological recovery to declare itself.
Each step builds on the previous one. You cannot skip ahead to prognostication without first optimizing oxygenation, circulation, and neuroprotection. This sequential yet overlapping approach maximizes your patient’s chance of meaningful recovery.
Step 1. Triage and early ED management
Your emergency department receives a post cardiac arrest patient within minutes of ROSC. This patient bypasses standard triage. You activate your arrest team immediately and direct the patient to a resuscitation bay equipped with continuous monitoring capability. The pre-hospital crew provides a handover covering arrest rhythm, downtime, number of shocks delivered, drugs administered, and any return of consciousness. You document this information immediately because it guides your prognostication decisions 72 hours later.
Initial assessment and team activation
You complete a rapid primary survey within 60 seconds of arrival. Check airway patency, breathing effort, and circulatory stability. Attach ECG monitoring, pulse oximetry, and automated blood pressure cuffs. Your team leader assigns specific roles: one clinician manages the airway, another establishes vascular access, a third reviews the ECG and orders urgent investigations. This role clarity prevents duplication and ensures no critical task gets missed during the chaotic initial period.
Your initial investigations include:
- 12-lead ECG (identify STEMI or arrhythmia requiring immediate intervention)
- Arterial blood gas (assess oxygenation, ventilation, lactate, pH)
- Point-of-care glucose (exclude hypoglycaemia as reversible cause)
- Portable chest X-ray (confirm ETT position, identify aspiration or pneumothorax)
- Bedside echocardiography (assess cardiac function, identify structural causes)
Critical actions in the first 10 minutes
You stabilize haemodynamics before any diagnostic procedures that could delay treatment. Insert two large-bore IV cannulas or maintain existing IO access until you secure central venous access. Start an infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride or balanced crystalloid if the systolic blood pressure falls below 90 mmHg. Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires you to avoid hypotension because it worsens neurological outcomes through secondary brain injury.
Hypotension occurs in 50% of post arrest patients and requires immediate correction with fluids and vasopressors to maintain cerebral perfusion.
Activate your catheterization laboratory if the ECG shows ST-segment elevation or the arrest occurred with witnessed chest pain. These patients need coronary angiography within 90 minutes regardless of consciousness level. Contact your ICU team early because all post arrest patients require intensive monitoring for at least 24 hours. This early communication allows them to prepare ventilators, cooling equipment, and continuous EEG monitoring before the patient arrives.
Step 2. Secure airway, oxygen and ventilation
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires immediate attention to airway management and gas exchange optimization. Most patients arrive with a pre-hospital advanced airway already in place, but you must confirm correct tube position and adequate ventilation within the first minute. Poor oxygenation or ventilation causes secondary brain injury that undermines all other resuscitation efforts. You target specific physiological parameters rather than arbitrary ventilator settings because individual patient responses vary significantly.
Intubation decision and technique
You proceed with endotracheal intubation if your patient arrives without an advanced airway and shows any of these features: GCS ≤8, inability to protect airway, ongoing seizures, or haemodynamic instability requiring multiple vasopressors. Use video laryngoscopy when available because it improves first-pass success and reduces the risk of oesophageal intubation. Pre-oxygenate with 100% oxygen via bag-valve-mask for at least three minutes before your intubation attempt. Choose induction agents that minimize haemodynamic instability such as ketamine (1-2 mg/kg) or etomidate (0.3 mg/kg). Avoid propofol in hypotensive patients because it causes further vasodilation and blood pressure drops.
Confirm tube placement using waveform capnography immediately after intubation. A consistent square-wave ETCO₂ trace provides more reliable confirmation than auscultation or chest rise. Secure the tube at the appropriate depth (typically 21 cm at the teeth for women, 23 cm for men) and obtain a chest X-ray to verify position above the carina. Document your tube size, depth, and confirmation method because this information matters if your patient requires re-intubation during the ICU stay.
Oxygen targets and titration
You begin with 100% oxygen immediately after ROSC and continue this concentration until you obtain reliable pulse oximetry readings and arterial blood gas results. This approach prevents hypoxemia during the vulnerable immediate post-arrest period when perfusion remains unstable. Once you establish reliable monitoring, titrate your FiO₂ to achieve an SpO₂ of 92-98%. This range avoids both hypoxemia (which worsens neurological injury) and hyperoxemia (which generates harmful oxygen free radicals).
Severe hyperoxemia with PaO₂ >250 mmHg associates with worse neurological outcomes, so you actively titrate oxygen down once initial stabilization occurs.
Monitor your arterial blood gases every 1-2 hours during the first 6 hours to guide ongoing oxygen adjustments. Accept an SpO₂ at the lower end of your target range rather than risk hyperoxemia in patients with good haemodynamic stability.
Ventilation settings and monitoring
You set initial ventilator parameters to achieve normocapnia with a target PaCO₂ of 35-45 mmHg. Start with volume-controlled ventilation using a tidal volume of 6-8 mL/kg ideal body weight to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury. Set your respiratory rate at 10-12 breaths per minute initially and adjust based on ETCO₂ and arterial blood gas results. Maintain PEEP at 5-8 cmH₂O unless your patient shows evidence of pulmonary oedema or ARDS requiring higher levels.
Avoid both hypocapnia and hypercapnia because each worsens outcomes through different mechanisms. Hypocapnia causes cerebral vasoconstriction that reduces brain perfusion. Hypercapnia increases intracranial pressure through vasodilation. Use continuous waveform capnography to detect acute changes in ventilation and circulation. A sudden drop in ETCO₂ suggests reduced cardiac output, pulmonary embolism, or circuit disconnection requiring immediate investigation.
Step 3. Optimise circulation and haemodynamics
Your post cardiac arrest patient faces haemodynamic instability in up to 50% of cases during the first 24 hours after ROSC. This instability results from myocardial stunning, systemic inflammatory response, and the underlying cause of arrest. You must restore adequate tissue perfusion immediately because hypotension directly correlates with poor neurological outcomes. Your goal involves maintaining sufficient blood pressure to perfuse the brain while avoiding excessive vasopressor doses that increase myocardial oxygen demand and risk re-arrest.
Blood pressure targets and monitoring
You target a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of at least 65 mmHg as your minimum threshold in all post cardiac arrest patients. This target maintains cerebral perfusion pressure above the autoregulation threshold in most adults. However, patients with chronic hypertension require higher targets because their autoregulation curve shifts rightward. Aim for a MAP of 70-80 mmHg in these patients to prevent watershed infarcts. You identify chronic hypertension through history, left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG, or by discussing with family members if the patient cannot provide information.
Establish invasive arterial monitoring within the first 30 minutes of ED arrival. Non-invasive blood pressure measurements lack the precision and continuous feedback you need for vasopressor titration. Insert your arterial line in the radial artery unless contraindicated, then zero and level the transducer at the phlebostatic axis. Monitor your waveform continuously because a damped trace or loss of pulsatility indicates line malfunction requiring immediate correction. Your arterial line also provides repeated blood gas access without additional venepuncture.
A MAP below 65 mmHg for any duration associates with worse neurological outcomes, so you intervene immediately rather than waiting to see if pressures stabilize spontaneously.
Vasopressor and inotrope selection
You initiate noradrenaline as your first-line vasopressor when fluid resuscitation fails to maintain your target MAP. Start at 0.05-0.1 micrograms/kg/min and titrate upward every 5-10 minutes until you achieve your MAP goal. Noradrenaline provides both alpha-mediated vasoconstriction and modest beta-1 inotropic support, making it ideal for the mixed distributive and cardiogenic shock seen post arrest. Establish central venous access before starting noradrenaline because peripheral extravasation causes tissue necrosis.
Add adrenaline (0.05-0.2 micrograms/kg/min) if your patient remains hypotensive despite noradrenaline doses exceeding 0.3 micrograms/kg/min. Adrenaline provides stronger inotropic support when echocardiography reveals severe left ventricular dysfunction. Consider adding vasopressin (0.03-0.04 units/min) as a third agent rather than pushing noradrenaline doses above 0.5 micrograms/kg/min. Excessive catecholamine doses increase myocardial oxygen consumption and arrhythmia risk without improving outcomes.
Fluid resuscitation and monitoring
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires cautious fluid administration because these patients tolerate volume overload poorly. Myocardial stunning reduces cardiac contractility and pulmonary capillary leak increases interstitial oedema. Give 250-500 mL boluses of 0.9% sodium chloride or balanced crystalloid solution and reassess after each bolus rather than administering large volumes rapidly. Use dynamic measures of fluid responsiveness such as pulse pressure variation or a passive leg raise test before giving additional fluid.
Monitor your patient’s lactate levels every 2-4 hours during the first 24 hours. Lactate clearance indicates improving tissue perfusion and predicts survival. You target a lactate reduction of at least 10% every 2 hours or an absolute value below 2 mmol/L within 6 hours. Persistent lactate elevation despite adequate MAP suggests ongoing shock from sepsis, mesenteric ischaemia, or limb ischaemia requiring specific investigation and treatment.
Step 4. Temperature control and neuroprotection
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires temperature management within the first hour after ROSC for all patients who remain unresponsive to verbal commands. Temperature control prevents fever-induced secondary brain injury and may improve neurological outcomes through multiple neuroprotective mechanisms. You avoid hyperthermia because each degree of temperature elevation above 37.5°C increases the risk of poor neurological recovery. This intervention continues for at least 24 hours and requires continuous core temperature monitoring throughout.
Temperature targets and initiation
You select a target temperature between 32-36°C based on your patient’s clinical features and institutional protocols. Most centres target 33-36°C because this range provides neuroprotection without the complications associated with deeper hypothermia. Initiate cooling within 60 minutes of ROSC using whatever method your facility has available. Speed of cooling matters less than avoiding fever and maintaining your chosen target consistently for the full duration.
Start with 30 mL/kg of 4°C 0.9% sodium chloride as a rapid infusion through a large-bore IV cannula if your patient remains hyperthermic or normothermic on arrival. This method reduces core temperature by approximately 1.5°C within 30 minutes while simultaneously improving haemodynamic stability through volume expansion. Monitor for fluid overload in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction by reassessing lung sounds and performing bedside echocardiography after your initial bolus.
Fever occurs in 70% of post arrest patients if you do not actively control temperature, and each hour of hyperthermia increases mortality risk.
Cooling methods and monitoring
Your hospital should have surface or intravascular cooling devices ready for immediate deployment. Surface cooling systems use gel pads applied to the torso and thighs that circulate cold water through an external unit. Intravascular devices insert through a femoral vein and cool blood directly, providing faster and more precise temperature control. Choose your method based on availability rather than delaying treatment to obtain a specific device type. Apply cooling blankets or pads before your patient leaves the emergency department to begin the process during transfer to ICU.
Measure core temperature continuously using an oesophageal, bladder, or rectal temperature probe. Peripheral sites such as axillary or tympanic measurements lack the accuracy required for tight temperature control. Set your target temperature on your cooling device and allow automated feedback control to maintain this level. Check your temperature reading every 15 minutes during the initial cooling phase and every hour once you reach your target.
Rewarming and sedation management
You maintain your target temperature for at least 24 hours after achieving it, though evidence supports continuation for up to 36 hours in patients with severe neurological injury. Begin controlled rewarming at 0.25-0.5°C per hour after your temperature maintenance period ends. Faster rewarming rates trigger rebound hyperthermia and electrolyte disturbances that worsen outcomes. Monitor your patient’s potassium levels every 4 hours during rewarming because rapid increases in serum potassium occur as cells warm and can precipitate arrhythmias.
Provide adequate sedation with propofol or midazolam and analgesia with fentanyl throughout the temperature control period. Shivering increases oxygen consumption and prevents effective cooling, so you add neuromuscular blockade if shivering persists despite adequate sedation. Use train-of-four monitoring to guide your paralytic dosing and prevent excessive neuromuscular blockade that complicates neurological assessment later.
Step 5. Identify and treat the arrest cause
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires simultaneous investigation of the arrest cause while you stabilize physiology. You cannot wait until oxygenation and circulation normalize because some causes demand immediate intervention that directly impacts survival. This parallel approach means ordering diagnostic tests during your initial resuscitation rather than sequencing them after achieving haemodynamic stability. The arrest mechanism often determines prognosis, so you document every finding systematically to guide later prognostication decisions.
Systematic investigation approach
You apply a structured framework to identify reversible causes rather than relying on clinical gestalt alone. The traditional "Hs and Ts" mnemonic guides your systematic search: Hypoxia, Hypovolaemia, Hypo/hyperkalaemia, Hypothermia, Hydrogen ions (acidosis), Thrombosis (coronary or pulmonary), Tension pneumothorax, Tamponade, and Toxins. Your initial arterial blood gas reveals several of these immediately through pH, potassium, lactate, and glucose values. Treat severe hyperkalaemia (K+ >6.5 mmol/L) with 10 mL of 10% calcium gluconate, 10 units of IV insulin with 25 g of glucose, and consider dialysis if refractory.
Review your patient’s medication history with family or previous hospital records because drug toxicity causes 10-15% of cardiac arrests. Look specifically for digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and recreational drugs. Measure drug levels when available and consider specific antidotes: glucagon for beta-blocker toxicity, calcium for calcium channel blocker overdose, sodium bicarbonate for tricyclic antidepressant poisoning. Contact your toxicology service early if you suspect poisoning because treatments like intralipid emulsion or extracorporeal removal require specialist input.
ECG and coronary intervention
Your 12-lead ECG within 10 minutes of arrival identifies ST-elevation myocardial infarction requiring immediate catheterization laboratory activation. You proceed to coronary angiography for all patients with STEMI regardless of consciousness level or time from arrest. This intervention improves survival when acute coronary occlusion caused the arrest. Patients without ST elevation but with high clinical suspicion still warrant angiography within 24 hours based on troponin elevation, regional wall motion abnormalities on echocardiography, or unexplained arrest in a patient with cardiovascular risk factors.
Coronary angiography within 2 hours of ROSC improves neurologically intact survival in patients with suspected cardiac causes, even when the ECG shows no ST elevation.
Treat acute coronary occlusions with percutaneous coronary intervention during the same procedure. Your interventional cardiologist places drug-eluting stents and achieves TIMI 3 flow before your patient returns to ICU. Consider mechanical circulatory support with an intra-aortic balloon pump or Impella device if your patient develops cardiogenic shock refractory to vasopressors during or after angiography.
Additional diagnostic testing
You order computed tomography of the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis when the arrest cause remains unclear after initial investigations. Head CT identifies intracranial haemorrhage or stroke as precipitating events requiring neurosurgical consultation. Chest CT with pulmonary angiography detects massive pulmonary embolism warranting thrombolysis or surgical embolectomy. Abdominal CT reveals ruptured aortic aneurysm, bowel perforation, or intra-abdominal haemorrhage needing emergency surgical intervention. Perform your CT scans once you achieve haemodynamic stability with vasopressor support rather than delaying for perfect blood pressure control that may never arrive.
Bedside transthoracic echocardiography identifies cardiac tamponade, massive right ventricular strain from pulmonary embolism, severe valvular pathology, or ventricular free wall rupture. Perform this investigation within 30 minutes of arrival and repeat if clinical deterioration occurs. Consider transoesophageal echocardiography if your transthoracic images provide inadequate visualization or if you suspect aortic dissection requiring urgent confirmation before CT scanning becomes available.
Step 6. Ongoing ICU monitoring and targets
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle enters its intensive monitoring phase once initial stabilization completes and your patient reaches the ICU. This phase extends for at least 72 hours and requires vigilant attention to multiple physiological parameters simultaneously. You detect and treat complications before they cause irreversible harm through continuous monitoring rather than intermittent spot checks. Your monitoring intensity peaks during the first 24 hours when arrhythmias, seizures, and haemodynamic instability occur most frequently.
Core physiological targets
You maintain strict physiological targets throughout the ICU stay because deviations in any parameter trigger secondary brain injury. Your nursing staff documents these parameters hourly and alerts you immediately when values drift outside target ranges. This table provides your specific monitoring thresholds for optimal neuroprotection:
| Parameter | Target Range | Action Required if Outside Range |
|---|---|---|
| SpO₂ | 92-98% | Adjust FiO₂, assess ventilation |
| PaCO₂ | 35-45 mmHg | Modify respiratory rate or tidal volume |
| MAP | ≥65 mmHg (70-80 if chronic hypertension) | Increase vasopressors, give fluid bolus |
| Temperature | 32-36°C (maintenance), then normothermia | Adjust cooling device, check for infection |
| Blood glucose | 6-10 mmol/L | Insulin infusion titration |
| Lactate | Clearance >10% every 2h, target <2 mmol/L | Reassess perfusion, investigate cause |
| Urine output | >0.5 mL/kg/h | Fluid bolus, consider renal replacement |
Monitor your arterial blood gases every 2-4 hours during the first 24 hours, then reduce frequency to every 6-8 hours if your patient remains stable. Perform blood gas analysis immediately if your patient shows sudden clinical deterioration, changes in ETCO₂, or reduced oxygen saturation despite increased FiO₂. Check serum electrolytes every 4 hours during temperature control and rewarming because rapid shifts in potassium, magnesium, and phosphate occur during these phases.
Seizure detection and neurological monitoring
You implement continuous EEG monitoring for all comatose patients because 10-40% develop seizures after cardiac arrest and most seizures lack obvious clinical signs. Apply your EEG electrodes within 6 hours of ICU admission and continue recording for at least 24-48 hours. Your neurophysiology service reviews traces every 4-6 hours and alerts you to any epileptiform activity requiring treatment. Status epilepticus or repetitive seizures demand immediate intervention with benzodiazepines followed by levetiracetam or phenytoin loading doses.
Continuous EEG detects nonconvulsive seizures in 15-20% of post arrest patients who appear clinically seizure-free, and these seizures worsen neurological outcomes if untreated.
Assess your patient’s neurological status through standardized examination every 4 hours once sedation lightens. Document pupil size and reactivity, corneal reflexes, motor response to painful stimuli, and any spontaneous movements. Myoclonic jerks occur commonly but do not always indicate poor prognosis, so you record their timing, distribution, and relationship to stimulation. Avoid making prognostication decisions based on early neurological findings because sedation, temperature management, and metabolic disturbances confound interpretation during the first 72 hours.
Organ dysfunction and complication surveillance
Your post cardiac arrest patients face multi-organ dysfunction from ischaemia-reperfusion injury affecting kidneys, liver, and gut. Monitor serum creatinine and urine output hourly to detect acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. Rising creatinine above 200 μmol/L or oliguria persisting despite adequate MAP and fluid resuscitation indicates you need to initiate continuous venovenous haemofiltration. Check liver function tests daily because hepatic injury manifests as transaminase elevation and coagulopathy requiring vitamin K or fresh frozen plasma correction.
Watch for recurrent arrhythmias through continuous telemetry monitoring with audible alarms. Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation may recur if the precipitating cause remains untreated, so you keep your defibrillator immediately available and continue the antiarrhythmic infusion started during resuscitation for 24-48 hours. Investigate any new arrhythmias for electrolyte disturbances, myocardial ischaemia, or drug toxicity before attributing them to post arrest instability. Treat sustained ventricular arrhythmias with amiodarone bolus (300 mg IV) followed by infusion or electrical cardioversion if haemodynamic compromise occurs.
Step 7. Prognostication, rehab and follow up
Your post cardiac arrest care bundle requires systematic prognostication that avoids premature withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. You wait at least 72 hours after achieving normothermia before making outcome predictions because sedation, temperature effects, and metabolic disturbances confound neurological examination during earlier periods. This waiting period protects against false-negative assessments that lead to inappropriate withdrawal decisions in patients who would have recovered meaningful function. No single clinical finding or test provides sufficient accuracy alone, so you apply multiple prognostic indicators together before reaching conclusions.
Neuroprognostication timing and multimodal approach
You combine clinical examination, EEG findings, imaging results, and biomarkers to predict neurological outcome accurately. Check for absent pupillary light reflexes and absent corneal reflexes at 72 hours as indicators of poor outcome. Request somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) showing bilateral absence of N20 responses, which strongly predict poor recovery when combined with other findings. Measure serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) at 48 and 72 hours because values exceeding 60 μg/L correlate with unfavourable outcomes. Obtain brain MRI after 72 hours to identify diffuse cortical injury patterns indicating severe anoxic damage. Never rely on a single test result to guide withdrawal decisions because exceptions occur even with markers traditionally considered highly specific for poor outcomes.
Multimodal prognostication prevents false-positive poor outcome predictions in 5-10% of patients who would recover if treatment continues beyond 72 hours.
Rehabilitation and discharge planning
Your survivors need structured rehabilitation programmes addressing physical, cognitive, and psychological recovery. Refer patients to specialist cardiac rehabilitation within one week of hospital discharge for supervised exercise training and secondary prevention education. Arrange neuropsychological assessment at three months to identify cognitive deficits requiring occupational therapy or memory rehabilitation. Screen all patients and family members for post-traumatic stress disorder because 25-50% experience psychological sequelae after cardiac arrest. Provide written action plans covering medications, follow-up appointments, and warning signs requiring emergency department return before discharge.
Moving from ROSC to recovery
You now have a complete post cardiac arrest care bundle that transforms chaotic resuscitation into systematic, evidence-based care. Each step builds on the previous one, from initial ED stabilization through to ICU discharge planning. Your consistent application of these protocols reduces variation in care delivery and improves both survival rates and neurological outcomes. The seven-step framework provides clear targets and interventions you can implement immediately during your next shift.
Effective post cardiac arrest management requires up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation science and hands-on practice with critical procedures. Your clinical decision-making improves when you refresh these skills regularly through accredited training programmes. Parasol Medical Training delivers ALS courses across Australia that cover the latest ANZCOR guidelines for post-resuscitation care, helping you maintain competency and earn CPD points whilst building confidence in managing these complex patients. Your next post arrest patient deserves the structured, protocol-driven approach that separates optimal care from missed opportunities.