#Ekg pulseless electrical activity update

Without blood flow, oxygen cannot be provided to the organs.) Unless asphyxia caused the arrest, blood is fully oxygenated at the time of arrest it is only once oxygen is depleted the breaths become essential.Ĭompressions circulate blood flow to the heart, lungs, and brain.

Begin chest compressions and ventilations with the following ratios: (Tip: Begin compressions first.Initiate chest compressions without delay.Activate the emergency response system and send someone to get an automated external defibrillator (AED).If unresponsive, perform CAB assessment by simultaneously assessing circulation, airway, and breathing (If high-quality CPR is performed this decline in survival is slowed.8īLS Survey: Early CPR & Early Defibrillation2,7,8 Of survival: for witnessed ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest every minute without defibrillation survival rates decline by 7-10%. The time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation is one of the most important determinants Early defibrillation is critical to patient survival. High-quality CPR and defibrillation are priorities when caring for a patient in cardiac arrest.

#Ekg pulseless electrical activity update

Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC recommends that in order to reduce time to first chest compression, trained rescuers should simultaneously check for breathing and circulation, and initiate CPR if a pulse is not definitively identified within 10 The 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) changed the BLS sequence to emphasize the importance of early chest compressions with the mnemonic C-A-B (compressions, airway, breathing).2The 2015 AHA List the most common causes of pulseless electrical activity and their treatments.Describe the initial treatment of asystole, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless electrical activity.Identify heart block and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia on an ECG.Identify asystole, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation on an ECG.Explain the initial evaluation and key management strategies for patients with cardiac arrest.Develop a list of common emergent causes for patients presenting with cardiac arrest.Discuss the importance of adequate chest compressions and early defibrillation in the management of pulseless patients.Describe the BLS and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Survey critical actions.Upon completion of this self-study module, you should be able to: High-quality CPR and early defibrillation can dramatically improve survival.6 Life support (BLS) is critical to saving lives. More than 300,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States and approximately 10% survive the arrest.1,2,3 Around 200,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year and about 20% survive to hospital discharge.3 4,5 Basic SAEMF/CDEM Innovations in Undergraduate Emergency Medicine Education GrantĬareer Development and Mentorship CommitteeĬDEM Medical Education Fellow Travel ScholarshipĪuthor: Emily Hillman, MD, Assistant Professor Emergency Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas CityĮditor: Julianna Jung, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Presidential Address: Where Do We Go From Here?ĮMF/SAEMF Medical Student Research Training Grant Virtual Rotation and Educational ResourcesĬommittee Update: NBME EM Advanced Clinical Examination Task Force Visit us on Twitter LinkedIn Facebook YouTubeĮffective Consultation in Emergency Medicine Video