Ch 21 Resuscitation Flashcards
A state in which the heart is no longer pumping blood
Cardiac arrest
A metaphor that describes the key elements of cardiac arrest management; when combined, these interventions offer optimal care
Chain of survival
Delivery of an electrical shock to stop the fibrillation of heart muscles and restore a normal heart rhythm
Defibrillation
A condition in which the heart’s electrical rhythm remains relatively normal, yet the mechanical pumping activity fails to follow the electrical activity, causing cardiac arrest
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
A condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses; commonly called flatline
Asystole
A disturbance in heart rate and rhythm
Dysrhythmia
A condition in which the heartbeat is quite rapid; will not allow the heart’s chambers to fill with enough blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient to meet the body’s needs
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)
A condition in which the heart’s electrical impulses are disorganized, preventing the heart muscle from contracting normally
Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
A cardiac arrest occurring due to the abrupt onset of a dysrhythmia
Sudden cardiac arrest
A cardiac arrest caused by acute blunt force trauma to the anterior chest
Commotio cordis
A cardiac arrest caused by systemic hypoxia, typically due to a respiratory disorder or shock
Asphyxial cardiac arrest
Irregular, gasping breaths that precede apnea and death
Agonal breathing
The absence of breathing
Apnea
Actions taken to revive a person by keeping the person’s heart and lungs working
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
The amount of time chest compressions are being performed compared with the total time of patient contact
Compression fraction
