Cardiac Arrest

Question 1

What is cardiac arrest?

Answer 1

Sudden loss of blood flow resulting from failure of the heart to pump effectively

Question 2

What are the signs of cardiac arrest?

Answer 2

• Unconscious
• Absent / abnormal breathing
• Absent pulse
• Symptoms of MI before

Question 3

What are the ratio of chest compressions?

Answer 3

30:2

Question 4

First thing to do when attending a cardiac arrest?

Answer 4

• Someone to attach difib

* Someone to start chest compression 30:2 breaths

Question 5

During a VF/VT cardiac arrest what is given and when? When is it given again?

Answer 5

• 1mg Adrenaline after 3rd shock

* Then every 3-5 mins (during alternate cycles of CPR

Question 6

How long does one cycle of CPR last before rhythm check?

Answer 6

2 mins

6 cycles

Question 7

If the cardiac arrest is witnessed in a monitored patient, what is done differently?

Answer 7

Recommend up to 3 quick successive stacked shocks rather than 1 shock followed by CPR

Question 8

In systole/pulseless-electrical activity cardiac arrest, what is given and when?

Answer 8

• Adrenaline 1mg given ASAP

* Then treated with 2mins CPR prior to reassessing rhythm

Question 9

When is a shock delivered?

Answer 9

When a patient is in VF or pulseless VT

Question 10

What additional agents can be given during a cardiac arrest?

Answer 10

*Oxygen titrated to 94-98%