In pediatric cardiac arrest, the usual cause is what?

• A. Cardiac rhythm disturbances
• B. Major trauma
• C. Airway and breathing problems
• D. Poisoning

Answer: (C)

In children, cardiac arrest is usually the result of respiratory failure leading to hypoxia. When airway and breathing are compromised, oxygen delivery to the heart and brain drops quickly, and the heart may slow or stop as a consequence. This makes airway and breathing problems the most common trigger for pediatric arrest, and it’s why rapid ventilation support and oxygenation are prioritized in pediatric CPR.

Think of common scenarios like choking, severe asthma, drowning, or infections that obstruct or impair breathing. While arrhythmias, major trauma, or poisoning can cause arrest, they are less common as the initiating factor in kids compared with respiratory problems leading to hypoxia.