Cardiac arrest

Question 1

define cardiac arrest

Answer 1

heart stops, no pulse, no breathing

Question 2

what are the 3 main, broad, causes of cardiac arrest

Answer 2

airways, breathing, circulation

Question 3

what approach is used in cardiac arrest

Answer 3

ABCDE

Question 4

what would you check for in airway?

Answer 4

tongue, swollen throat, blocked with vomit/ blood

Question 5

what would you check for in breathing? what can cause issues?

Answer 5

fast, noisy, trauma, muscle damage, COPD

Question 6

what would you check for in circulation? what can cause issues?

Answer 6

O2 sats, ABG = gold standard, tachycardia, BP. hypoxaemia, valve diseases, acute coronary symptoms

Question 7

what would you check for in disability?

Answer 7

AVPU, blood glucose

Question 8

what would you check for in exposure?

Answer 8

remove clothes to look for bleeds, scars etc, maintain dignity and keep body warm

Question 9

describe a person who is unconscious

Answer 9

not responding but breathing + pulse

Question 10

describe a person who is in resp arrest

Answer 10

not responding, no breathing, pulse

Question 11

describe a person who is in cardiac arrest

Answer 11

not responding + no breathing + no pulse

Question 12

describe CPR + breaths

Answer 12

1) head tilt chin lift
2) look, listen, feel for breathing (10 secs)
3) 30 chest compressions, 5-6cm, 100-120bpm
4) 2x breaths close nose, lift chin (5 secs)

Question 13

what 2 arrhythmias are shockable?

Answer 13

ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Question 14

what are 2 non-shockable arrhythmias

Answer 14

asystole and PEA (pulseless electrical activity)

Question 15

describe what asystole would show on an ECG and treatment

Answer 15

wavy line with no QRS, maybe some p waves. CPR and reassess every 2 mins. give 1mg IV adrenaline immediately then every 3-5mins

Question 16

what would PEA show on an ECG and how would you treat it

Answer 16

pulseless electrical activity, ECG can be normal but physical appearance of a CA. CPR for 2 mins and reassess, give 1mg IV adrenaline immediately and then every 3-5mins

Question 17

what is a pre-cordial thump and when would you use it

Answer 17

if patient has monitored VF/VT and defib not immediately available, not very effective

Question 18

what is a defib and what does it hopefully do?

Answer 18

uses electrical current to restore NSR

Question 19

what 2 types of defib are there

Answer 19

manual paddles and self adhesive (better).

Question 20

what are the steps of using a defib in VT/VF? including drug management

Answer 20

1 shock immediately –> CPR 2mins then reassess –> 2nd shock –> 2mins CPR, reassess –> 3rd shock + 1mg IV adrenaline (3-5mins after) + amiodarone –> CPR…

Question 21

what can be used for ventilation

Answer 21

tracheal tube (gold standard), supraglottic airway devise (iGEL), self inflating bag.

Question 22

when do you stop CPR?

Answer 22

when NSR returns or futile