Which of the following is included in the Hs and Ts etiologies for pediatric cardiac arrest?

• A. Seizure
• B. Hypoxia
• C. Sepsis
• D. Stroke

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that in pediatric cardiac arrest the most actionable reversible cause is hypoxia. In children, arrest often follows respiratory failure that leaves the body without enough oxygen. When oxygen delivery drops, the heart and brain quickly falter, leading to cardiac arrest. Treating this promptly means securing the airway, providing effective ventilation, and delivering sufficient oxygen so oxygen delivery to tissues improves and circulation can be restored. Seizure, sepsis, and stroke aren’t part of the Hs/Ts mnemonic used to categorize the standard reversible pediatric arrest etiologies, though they may appear in broader differential diagnoses. The focus on hypoxia reflects why rapid ventilation and oxygenation are prioritized in pediatric resuscitation.