Sudden cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not an unfrequent clinical condition in the emergency room (ER). Sudden cardiac arrest in the ER is being seen more frequently and in younger age groups. Despite progression in resuscitative medicine, the survival rates of both inhospital and out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest remain poor. There exists a great need for the improvement of prehospital care as well as controlling risk factors to decrease the incidence and improve the outcome of the sudden cardiac arrest. Recent innovations in postarrest care have been demonstrated to increase survival. However, survival depends on variables such as percutaneous coronary intervention capacity, ER volume, and on clinician experience. In this section we delve into the alarming prevalence of this problem, discussing and grouping specific symptoms, and electrocardiogram findings that should make clinicians suspect a patient to be at increased risk for cardiac arrest. This section will provide tools that can aid in readily detecting and treating high-risk patients, allowing the clinician to promptly screen, monitor, and treat the patient, resulting in the prevention and opportune management of sudden cardiac arrest.
