Adult life support Flashcards
How can you categorise people needing life support?
It should be remembered that the algorithm divides patients into those with:
‘shockable’ rhythms: ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pulseless VT)
‘non-shockable’ rhythms: asystole/pulseless-electrical activity (asystole/PEA)
What are the key features of life support?
chest compressions
the ratio of chest compressions to ventilation is 30:2
chest compressions are now continued while a defibrillator is charged
defibrillation
a single shock for VF/pulseless VT followed by 2 minutes of CPR
if the cardiac arrested is witnessed in a monitored patient (e.g. in a coronary care unit) then the 2015 guidelines recommend ‘up to three quick successive (stacked) shocks’, rather than 1 shock followed by CPR
drug delivery
IV access should be attempted and is first-line
if IV access cannot be achieved then drugs should be given via the intraosseous route (IO)
delivery of drugs via a tracheal tube is no longer recommended
adrenaline
adrenaline 1 mg as soon as possible for non-shockable rhythms
during a VF/VT cardiac arrest, adrenaline 1 mg is given once chest compressions have restarted after the third shock
repeat adrenaline 1mg every 3-5 minutes whilst ALS continues
