Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills of preregistration house officers.

chest easily inflated. Her heart rate was 52 beats/minute (apex); there were no palpable pulses and no response to stimuli. She was given adrenaline 1:1000 0 5 ml by subcutaneous infusion, 5% sodium bicarbonate 10 ml, and hydro- cortisone 100 mg by intravenous injection. An intravenous infusion of plasma protein fraction was started. Within a few minutes peripheral pulses were palpable and systolic blood pressure was 50 mm Hg. She remained drowsy for about 12 hours but apart from having fever (37-4'C) made an uncompli- cated recovery. Her parents declined further attempts at surgery and she was discharged.