Successful resuscitation after prolonged periods of cardiac arrest: A new field in cardiac surgery

Clinically apparent neurological recovery after a period of 15 minutes of cardiac arrest occurred with cardiopulmonary bypass instead of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for reperfusing the whole body. This approach contrasts with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in which resuscitation has been reported as successful after only 3 to 5 minutes of cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary bypass might be a key to improve survival and neurological recovery after cardiac arrest.