CPR Flashcards
Cardiopulmonary (cerebral resuscitation) aims for
Return of spontaneous circulation
What does ABC stand for?
Quick assessment of patient
Check airway is patent
Breathing
Circulation
How do you check the airway is patent?
Close mouth, put fur in front of nose and compress chest
What should you do when seeing the airway is patent?
Intubate with ET tube, inflate (in dogs only) and tie
How do you check the patient is breathing?
Watch chest
Feel for exhaled breath
How do you check for circulation?
Feel femoral pulse (not with thumb)
If no breathing or circulation, immediately begin CPR. Why is time crucial for arrested patients?
Longer time until CPR = less likely to recover, more likely to have brain damage
Some argue abdominal compression increase CPR success rate. What are the disadvantages of this?
Needs more people
Can damage liver or spleen
What are the 2 parts to CPR? What ratio do you do these in if alone?
Chest compressions and ventilation
30:2 - do simultaneously with somebody else if possible
If alone, CPR should be performed in uninterrupted cycles of how long? When should brief interruptions only be?
2 minutes
Changeover people (if 2 people)
Do mouth to snout (if alone)
What position should you stand in when doing chest compressions?
Stand above animal with their spine towards you
Spread hands as wide as possible
What is the minimum rate of chest compressions?
100-120 per minute
What depth should chest compressions be?
1/2 to 1/3
Why should you not lean on the chest in-between chest compressions?
Allow chest to recoil
What are the 2 mechanisms of blood flow theories?
Cardiac pump theory
Thoracic pump theory
What should you do for the ventilation part to CPR?
Use ET tube IPPV - intermittent positive pressure ventilation using O2 and reservoir bag
Why should you not fully squeeze the reservoir bag?
Over inflates and damages lungs - emphysema
What are the disadvantages of blowing down the ET tube?
only 15% oxygen
If no ET tube is available. How is mouth to snout done?
Seal off mouth with hands
Do 2 breaths to every 30 chest compressions or 10 breaths per minute
What is the tidal volume and inspiratory period when doing ventilation?
Inflate bag 10mls/kg
1 second
How does the cardiac pump theory work?
Ventricles compressed directly between ribs (lateral recumbency) or between sternum and spine (dorsal recumbency
Blood forced from heart to lungs and periphery
Relaxation returns blood to ventricles
How does the thoracic pump theory work?
Increased intrathoracic pressure compresses the aorta and collapses the vena cava
Forces blood out of the thorax
Elastic recoil of chest decreases intrathoracic pressure
Blood flows from periphery into thorax
What position should round chested dogs (e.g. labrador) be when doing CPR? What theory is easiest?
Lateral recumbency (either side) Thoracic pump theory
What position should narrow chested dogs (e.g. greyhound) be when doing CPR? What theory is easiest?
Lateral recumbency
Cardiac pump theory
