ACLS Flashcards
What are the ACLS updates 2015 versus 2010
Any intervention: compression interruption < 5 seconds
Waveform capnography included
Stepwise airway management dependent on patient factors and rescuer skill
Is mechanical chest compression (LUCAS) indicated in the 2015 guidelines?
Some circumstances (patient transfer)
Is peri-arrest ultrasound indicated
In certain situations in providers with appropriate training
What do the guidelines say about Extracorporeal Life Support techniques
May be useful in certain patients where standard measures have failed
What two possible intra-operative conditions require deviation from standard cardiac arrest algorithm
Local anaesthetic toxicity
Anaphylaxis
What is the incidence of intraoperative cardiac arrest primarily attributable to anaesthesia
1 in 10 000
Classify the the major causes of perioperative cardiac arrest
Primary bleeding (Truama/coagulopathy/surgical vessel rupture)
Primary cardiac (MI/Dysrhythmia/block)
Other
- PE (air/fat/thrombus)
- Anaphylaxis
- Hypoxia (Airway/ventilatory complications
What circumstances constitutes cardiac arrest considered to be directly attributable to anaesthesia?
Immediate arrest following drug administration
Airway complications and mishaps
(Unstable patients arresting on induction were not considered having arrested primarily due to anaesthesia)
List in descending order the survival to hospital discharge the rhythms with best survival to hospital discharge
pVT/VF (41.8 %)
Asystole (30.5 %)
PEA (26.4 %)
What action should be taken if there is loss of SaO2 signal and ETCO2 reading diminishing
Pulse check (PEA arrest possible)
How is management of intra-operative VF different from the ALS algorithm
Stacked shocks - 2 x successive shocks –> CPR and algorithm
Precordial thump - if defibrillator not available
How is management of intra-operative asystole different from the ALS algorithm
EXCLUDE lead disconnection (completely straight line)
STOP VAGAL STIMULATION and TRY ATROPINE 0.5 MG
Most likely cause: excessive vagal tone
- Stop surgeon
- Administer atropine 0.5 mg titrated up to effect
If no immediate ROSC: CA algorithm
How is management of intra-operative PEA different from the ALS algorithm
Start CPR Give fluid (unless certain of normovolaemia) Vasopressor - Adrenalin 1mg is too much - give a small dose of adrenalin or another vasopressor initially --> if this fails to restore cardiac output, increase the dose
Cardiac arrest in a prone patient - how to do chest compressions
Compress on the back with or without sternal counter pressure
Describe the immediate management of a patient once anaphylaxis has been diagnosed
- Help
- Convert to ETT with FiO2 100%
- Adrenalin 0.5mg IM (50 ug titrated boluses IV anaesthetists)