Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation in
Neonatal Foals
Basic Information 
Overview and Goal(s)
• Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation is instituted to return the foal to spontaneous and effective circulation and ventilation, with minimal hypoxic organ damage.
• Resuscitation attempts performed after respiratory arrest alone are more successful (50% survive) than those performed after cardiac arrest (10% survive).
• Prognosis for any CPCR event due to primary cardiac failure or severe disease is guarded to grave.
Indications
• Impending signs of cardiopulmonary arrest in hospitalized foals include tachycardia or bradycardia, depression, oliguria, weak to absent pulses, poor capillary refill time, hypothermia, sporadic respirations, and an abdominal component to respiration.
• Causes of cardiopulmonary arrest fall in two categories: Primary cardiac failure and secondary cardiac arrest
Contraindications
Preparation: Important Checkpoints
• CPCR will not be successful without organized equipment, personnel, and a CPCR plan including chain of command.
• A CPCR code should be practiced on a regular basis to ensure everyone knows their roles and expectations.
• Resuscitation status should be determined for all foals admitted and clear communication of the expectations of all involved should be established if an unplanned code occurs (see “Neonatal Resuscitation Assessment” in Seccion V).
• Equipment should be checked on a regular basis, and medications assessed to ensure they have not reached their expiration dates.
• Data sheets should be readily available to record the event.
• A postresuscitation assessment should be performed for every CPCR event to identify areas of improvement.
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