Cardiac Arrest and Resus Flashcards
What are the three overt signs of cardiac arrest?
- Unconscious
- Abnormal or no breathing
- Absence of signs of circulation
These signs are critical for early recognition of cardiac arrest.
Why is checking for a pulse no longer recommended in confirming cardiac arrest?
It wastes precious time that could be spent doing CPR.
Early intervention is crucial for survival.
What is cardiac arrest?
The cessation of effective cardiac output.
Normal cardiac output is approximately 5L per minute.
What is perfusion?
The movement of oxygen around the body to vital organs.
Vital organs include the kidneys, brain, and heart.
What are two main causes of cardiac arrest?
- Mechanical failure (e.g., myocardial infarction)
- Electrical failure (e.g., cardiac dysrhythmia)
Electrical failures can sometimes be corrected with defibrillation.
What should be done immediately if someone is suspected to be in cardiac arrest?
CPR should be started immediately.
Early CPR and defibrillation give the best chance of survival.
What is the difference between primary and secondary cardiac arrest?
- Primary: Occurs due to cardiac causes, more common in adults
- Secondary: Due to non-cardiac causes (e.g., pulmonary trauma, drowning)
Primary arrests prioritize CPR and defibrillation; secondary arrests prioritize oxygenation and ventilation.
What is the priority in primary cardiac arrest?
Good quality CPR and early defibrillation.
This approach is crucial for survival chances.
What is the priority in secondary cardiac arrest?
Oxygenation and ventilation to treat underlying hypoxia.
Defibrillation is often not required in these cases.
What does Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) mean?
The heart begins beating on its own again.
This is the goal of interventions during cardiac arrest.
What indicates that a patient has achieved ROSC?
A sudden increase in end-tidal CO2 measured using capnography.
This indicates improved perfusion and CO2 removal from the body.
What change in ECG may indicate ROSC?
Change from a cardiac arrest rhythm to a sinus rhythm.
Sinus rhythm and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) can appear identical on an ECG.
What should be the focus if ROSC occurs?
Establishing an airway and assessing respiratory effort.
The patient may or may not be breathing at this stage.
Fill in the blank: A cardiac arrest is the cessation of _______.
[effective cardiac output].
Cardiac output is critical for sustaining life.
True or False: All interventions during cardiac arrest are aimed at achieving ROSC.
True
Achieving ROSC is the primary goal of resuscitation efforts.
