Anaesthetic Emergencies: Cardiac arrest

Question 1

Name 5 warning signs of cardiac arrest

Answer 1

• No heartbeat can be asculated, palpated or seen on ECG/ultrasound
• No palpable arterial pulse
• MMs grey or cyanotic
• CRT prolonged
• Pupils widely dilated with no palbebral reflex
• Respiration absent except with chenye stokes respiration
• Agonal gasping (shuddering in-cordinated moving of the abdomen and thorax)

Question 2

Name 3 causes of cardiac arrest

Answer 2

• Underlying cardiovascular disease
• Anaaesthetic overdose
• Other systemic disease
• Occasionally human error

Question 3

What do you do if a patient goes into cardiac arrest?

Answer 3

• Notify vs / get help
• Begin compressions ASAP
• Intubate patient if not already intubated
• Check for pulse every 2 minutes
• Drugs and IV fluids e.g. adrenaline
• Keep patient warm
• Defibrillator?

Question 4

What does CBA stand for?

Answer 4

Compressions, breathing, airway

Question 5

At what rate should you give compressions?

Answer 5

100-120 bmp in 2 minute cycles

OR if on your own 30 compressions then 2 breathes

Question 6

After what period of time is it very unlikely the patient will recover?

Answer 6

15 minutes

Question 7

Where do you give compressions?

Answer 7

• animal on its side

- Heal of hand at 5th intercoastal space

Question 8

How do you compress small dogs / cats

Answer 8

thumb and fingers

Question 9

How deeply do you compress?

Answer 9

1/3-1/2 width of chest