reanimation

Reanimation refers to the process of restoring life or vital functions after their cessation. In medical contexts, it commonly means resuscitation—efforts to restore spontaneous circulation and breathing in a person who has suffered cardiac arrest. Reanimation typically involves a sequence of interventions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation when the heart rhythm is shockable, airway management, ventilation, oxygen delivery, and guided medications. Advanced life support may include invasive monitoring, vascular access, targeted temperature management, and treatment of reversible causes such as hypoxia, hypovolemia, or cardiac arrhythmias. Post-resuscitation care focuses on stabilizing the patient, identifying and treating underlying problems, and preventing organ injury.

The approach to reanimation varies by setting. Out-of-hospital resuscitation relies on bystander CPR and public-access defibrillators, followed by transport to a hospital for more definitive care. In-hospital resuscitation occurs with immediate access to staff, medications, and equipment. Guidelines for resuscitation are regularly updated by professional bodies and emphasize high-quality chest compressions, minimizing interruptions, rapid defibrillation when appropriate, and coordinated team effort.

Outcomes after reanimation depend on multiple factors, including the cause of arrest, time to intervention, and quality of post-resuscitation care. Neurological outcome remains a key consideration, and ethical discussions about goals of care and do-not-resuscitate orders, as well as organ donation, are often part of the process.

In popular use, reanimation can refer to speculative or fictional revival concepts or to cryonics, which aims to preserve bodies for future revival but remains unproven as a method of true reanimation.