Abstract: A method for resuscitating a patient from cardiac arrest, comprising: (a) administering CPR, and (b) administering: i) an amount of one or more vasopressor agents, or one or more vasopressinergic agonists, or a combination thereof, sufficient to increase the patient's arterial blood pressure; and ii) an amount of L-arginine, nitric oxide, a direct nitric oxide donor, or another nitric oxide donor, or a combination thereof, sufficient to enhance arterial blood flow to the patient's brain and heart, as well as kits and pharmaceutical compositions useful for practicing the method are described.