Outline of the 2005 European Resuscitation Council Guidelines

Abstract

Resuscitation guidelines are revised and updated about every 5 years and this happens because resuscitation science continues to advance and clinical guidelines must be updated regularly to reflect these developments and advise healthcare providers on best practice. To date, the 2000 resuscitation guidelines are followed in Malta and other countries worldwide. These guidelines have been now revised by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and a consensus has been reached resulting in the publication of the 2005 guidelines. The ILCOR was formed in 1993 and its mission is to identify and review international science and knowledge relevant to CPR, and to offer consensus on treatment recommendations. A total of 281 experts completed 403 worksheets on 276 topics. Three hundred and eighty specialists from 18 countries attended the 2005 International Consensus Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Science, which took place in Dallas in January 2005. Science statements and treatment recommendations were agreed by the conference participants and the results are now the new 2005 Resuscitation Guidelines. These ILCOR guidelines will be published internationally on the 28 th November 2005 for the first time. The Malta Resuscitation Council (MRC) participated in meetings of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) where the dissemination of these new guidelines was discussed. This article will try to summarize the major changes incorporated in the new guidelines.