IFEMED Journal of the Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students’ Association J. Ifemed | vol 25| issue 1|2021 Ifemedjc.com.ng Ifemed Journal of Medicine May be reproduced with permission and acknowledgement Copyright © 2021 Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students’ Association. All rights reserved. MANAGING THE CARDIAC ARREST PATIENT Adetoye A.O. 1 , Arowona A.M. 2 , Chukwuma C.J. 3 1 Consultant Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesiology, Obafemi Awolowo University and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Ile-Ife 2 Clinical II, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 3 Preclinical II, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife ABSTRACT Cardiac arrest or Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs before Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). SCD is a common cause of death around the world with an estimated figure of 7 million deaths annually and over 300,000 occurring in the United States. Appropriate management of cardiac arrest patients (CAP) could increase their chances of survival. Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with improvement in emergency medical services (EMS) are effective in saving lives. Bystanders and health care providers ought to be adequately skilled and equipped to deliver effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This article reviews effective methods of managing cardiac arrest victims. Keywords: Cardiac Arrest, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). INTRODUCTION CARDIAC arrest (CA) which is also called Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) has been defined severally as the sudden cessation of effective cardiac activity presenting with pulselessness, apnea and unconsciousness, in a patient who is not expected to die at that point in time [1] or the sudden cessation of cardiac activity such that the victim becomes unresponsive, with either persisting gasping respirations or absence of any respiratory movements, and no signs of circulation as manifested by the absence of a perceptible pulse. An arrest is presumed to be of cardiac etiology unless it is known or likely to have been caused