Adult basic life support

Question 1

Chain of survival

Answer 1

-early recognition and call for help
-early CPR
-early defibrillation
-post resuscitation care

Question 2

CPR

Answer 2

-cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
-won’t start the heart alone
-purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart
-also delays tissue death to help prevent brain damage

Question 3

ILCOR

Answer 3

-international liaison committee on resuscitation
-new guidelines every 5 years- next 2025

Question 4

Sequence for BLS

Answer 4

-approach safely
-check response
-open airway
-check breathing and pulse
-30 chest compressions
-2 rescue ventilations

Question 5

Patient assessment triangle in cardiac arrest

Answer 5

-appearance- lifeless
-colour- cyanosed (blue/grey)
-work of breathing- absent or agonal gasps

Question 6

Agonal breathing

Answer 6

-occurs shortly after the heart stops in 40% of cardiac arrests
-described as barely, heavy, noisy or gasping breathing
-NEEDS TO BE RECOGNISED AS A SIGN OF CARDIAC ARREST

Question 7

Access to patient

Answer 7

-need 360 degree access
-move furniture
-move patient
-rescuer positions for the head or side of patient
-equipment at corners and feet

Question 8

Equipment position

Answer 8

-standardise layout
-person at head needs access to airway management
-person at side needs IV access equipment and drugs
-defib where all crewmates can see the screen

Question 9

Crew resource management (CRM)

Answer 9

-good communication
-good teamwork
-good leadership

Question 10

Chest compressions

Answer 10

-expose chest
-find centre of chest on lower half of sternum
-place heel of one hand in centre of chest
-place other hand on top
-compress rate of 100-120 per min
-depth 5-6 cm for adult
-change CPR operator every 2 mins

Question 11

2 rescue ventilations

Answer 11

-insert opa
-BVM and oxygen
-head tilted
-CE grip
-observe for chest rise
-inflate over 1 second and release
-2 inflations
- 30:2 ratio chest compressions: breaths

Question 12

End tidal CO2 measurement

Answer 12

-low ETCO2 (below 10mmHG) caused by poor compression technique or low perfusion and metabolism
-ETCO2 above 15mmHG indicates compressions are generating some perfusion
-aim for 20 mmHG during CPR
-the higher the ETCO2 the better the perfusion and better chance of survival

Question 13

Advanced life support interventions

Answer 13

-IV access
-advanced airway- supraglottic airway/ endotracheal tube
-cardioactive drugs- adrenaline/ amidodarone
-IV fluids- NaCl
-post ROSC care