The 2025 update of the Korean guidelines for cardiac arrest under special circumstances incorporates new evidence and expert consensus to clarify when clinicians should modify standard resuscitation algorithms. For cardiac arrest caused by acute hyperkalemia, the guidelines suggest administering intravenous insulin with glucose; however, current evidence remains insufficient to recommend for or against routine use of sodium bicarbonate or calcium. In suspected pulmonary embolism–related cardiac arrest, thrombolytic therapy may be considered. In confirmed cases, thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, or percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy may be appropriate, despite very low certainty of evidence. For opioid-related cardiac arrest, current evidence does not support the routine administration of naloxone in addition to standard advanced life support; however, naloxone may be administered when it is unclear whether the patient is in true cardiac arrest. The guidelines also emphasize managing cardiac arrest in the prone position. If the patient is intubated and immediate repositioning is unsafe or impractical, prone cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation may be attempted using invasive arterial pressure or end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring to guide the timing of repositioning. Immediate supination is strongly recommended for non-intubated patients. Additional updates address drowning, severe hypothermia, pregnancy, anaphylaxis, and cardiac arrest during interventional procedures, underscoring the importance of early correction of reversible causes, appropriate airway strategies, and timely consideration of extracorporeal life support in selected cases. Overall, the 2025 recommendations highlight cautious, etiology-directed interventions and explicitly grade recommendation strength and certainty to support context-sensitive clinical decision-making in high-risk and resource-variable settings.

The 2025 Korean advanced life support guidelines were updated using a structured evidence evaluation process informed by recent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. The guideline development group prioritized patient-important outcomes and assessed the certainty of the evidence to formulate graded recommendations. For drug administration during adult cardiac arrest, intravenous access is the preferred initial route, with intraosseous access recommended when intravenous access cannot be rapidly established. Epinephrine remains the recommended vasopressor. Routine administration of vasopressin, either alone or in combination with corticosteroids, is not recommended for in-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In the absence of specific indications, the routine use of buffering agents and calcium is discouraged owing to insufficient evidence of their benefits and potential harm. Defibrillation recommendations were refined based on emerging evidence. In adults with refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia after multiple unsuccessful defibrillation attempts, vector change or double sequential defibrillation may be considered in selected settings when performed by experienced teams with appropriate equipment. Airway management guidelines recommend cricothyroidotomy as a rescue technique when conventional airway management strategies fail. For patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation while on mechanical ventilation, specific ventilator settings during chest compressions are recommended to optimize ventilation and minimize interference with high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The guidelines also address cardiopulmonary resuscitation–induced consciousness, allowing the cautious use of sedatives and/or analgesic agents when awareness interferes with resuscitation quality or safety. Overall, the guidelines emphasize evidence-based practice and individualized clinical decision-making.

The 2025 Korean Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation include a first aid section developed through a systematic review and evidence appraisal. The revision aimed to strengthen prehospital first aid response capacity while reflecting the Korean healthcare system, field feasibility, and relevant legal and institutional contexts. The guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for seven priority emergencies: adult chest pain suggestive of myocardial infarction, suspected acute ischemic stroke, asthma-related dyspnea, anaphylaxis, seizures, shock, and syncope. Core principles emphasize early recognition, prompt activation of emergency medical services, minimizing delays to definitive care, and safe condition-specific interventions. Key recommendations include assisting with patient-prescribed medications when appropriate (e.g., nitroglycerin, inhaled bronchodilators, and epinephrine autoinjectors), using structured stroke screening tools, preventing aspiration through proper positioning and withholding oral intake in patients at risk of dysphagia, administering oxygen only for hypoxemia, and initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients who are unconscious and not breathing normally. Seizure management focuses on safety and emergency medical services activation criteria, while care for shock and syncope emphasizes patient positioning and post-event assessment. These recommendations provide practical, evidence-based guidance for improving patient safety and outcomes in prehospital settings.