In-hospital cardiac arrest.

In-hospital sudden cardiac arrest and resuscitation is distinct from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (OOHSCA) and warrants specific attention. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a manifestation of an underlying process rather than a disease itself. The complex, multiorgan system dysfunction common among the inpatient population can precipitate SCA by both similar and very different mechanisms than OOHSCA. The diagnostic and treatment algorithms of SCA remain largely the same between the inpatient and outpatient arenas. The application of complex diagnostic and therapeutic interventions is permissible, but such tools must not interrupt or delay the important basics of cardiac arrest management in the inpatient setting, including adequate chest compressions and timely defibrillation when appropriate.