Crash Carts & CPR Flashcards
What things are found in the 8 drawers of a crash cart?
- emergency drugs - alphabetical order, CPR (atropine, epinephrine, vasopressin), reversals (atipamezole, flumazenil, naloxone)
- airway supplies - ET tubes, laryngoscopes, batteries, bulbs
- IV access supplies - catheters, tubes, venipuncture, tourniquet
- fluids - 1 of each type, solution sets
- chest tube
- surgical supplies - gloves, equipment for simple procedures
- tracheostomy supplies
- open-chest CPR supplies
What is found on top and on the side of a crash cart?
TOP = defibrillator, calculator, measuring tape, flush
SIDE = paperwork (flow sheet, stock list), ambu-bag, pressure bag
What typically causes differences in organization of crash carts?
- size of items (bottles of emergency drugs)
- hospital needs/supplies
- hospital layout
What 4 aspects of routine maintenance is recommended for crash carts?
- use stocking list to fill each drawer appropriately
- routinely clean up and reorganize
- check all expiration dates
- label each drawer as stocked
What 3 things should be done every time a crash cart is used?
- restock what was used
- clean, reorganize
- label each drawer as stocked
What is CPR? CPA? ROSC? CPCR?
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
cardiopulmonary arrest
return of spontaneous circulation
cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation
When are manikins useful for CPR training?
usually beneficial for early training —> long-term benefit questionable
- no high fidelity minikins in veterinary CPR
What call and response is required for CPR?
- call = “3 mL atropine”
- response = “3 mL atropine going in”
be specific and give orders
- Erin, give 1 L LRS bolus
- Sarah, connect the EKG leads
- Katie, give 3 mL atropine IV
How is arrest identified?
- Is the patient breathing?
- Is the patient’s heart beating?
- Does the patient need CPR? Does the owner want it?
- unconscious =/= dead!
How is CPA identified?
- pulse search
- agonal breathing
- electrical activity without perfusion
What are the ABC’s of basic life support identified by the American Heart Association? How does this relate to veterinary patients?
Airway, Breathing, Circulation
respiratory arrest > cardiac arrest —> ventricular fibrillation is less common and asystole/pulseless electrical activity is more common
How is airway/breathing maintained in an arrested patient? How can it be confirmed?
intubation
- visualization
- EtCO2 monitor —> stomach and esophagus will have low to absent CO2
How are breaths mechanically given to arrested patients? Why does hyperventilation still need to be avoided?
- breath size = 10 mL/kg
- breath timing = 1 second inspiration
- breath rate = 10 bpm
hypocapnia can result in cerebral vasoconstriction and cerebral hypoxia
How is circulation given to arrested patients?
chest compressions to stimulate normal cardiac function (systole and diastole)
What are 3 aspects of high quality chest compressions?
- PUSH HARD - 1/3-1/2 chest depth using core strength (not just leaning!) and allow for chest recoil
- PUSH FAST - 100-120 compressions per minute, higher in cats and small dogs (Stayin’ Alive)
- DON’T STOP = 2 minute cycles, switch out rapidly
What are the 2 places used for chest compressions?
- CARDIAC pump - hands at the level of the heart allowing for direct cardiac compression in small dogs and cats
- THORACIC pump - hands at the widest part of the chest transmitting intrathoracic pressure to the heart most commonly used in large dogs
What medical and electrical interventions are recommended for advanced life support?
- IV fluids
- vasopressors
- anticholinergics
- positive inotropes
- anti-arrhythmics
- defibrillation
- open chest CPR
What is the shortcut does of IV fluid boluses for arrested patients? What are the 2 relative contraindications?
200 mL per 20 lbs (1/4th shock dose of 20 mL/kg)
- arrest due to heart failure
- euvolemia (usually already hospitalized and on IVF) - can give smaller boluses for delivery of medications
What administration of emergency drugs is avoided?
IM or SQ
- use IV, IO, intratracheal
How is the intra-tracheal dose of emergency drugs different? How are they delivered?
3-10x IV dose
- Atropine = 10 mL/20 lbs
- Epinephrine = 1.0 mL/20 lbs
long catheter followed by sterile water
How are emergency drugs delivered IV?
- bolus through IVC
- flush!
What kind of drug is Atropine? What 2 affects does it have? In what patients is it especially helpful?
vagolytic
- abolishes parasympathetic input = fight or flight takes over
- increases HR
brachycephalic arrests, respiratory failure, and GI diseae
What dose is used for emergency Atropine? What is the shortcut?
0.04 mg/kg every 3-5 mins
1 mL/20 lbs
What kind of drug is epinephrine? What 2 effects does it have? How can it be detrimental?
catecholamine = fight or flight
- increased HR and strength of contractions
- arterial vasconstriction
can cause sustained tachycardia
What dose is used for emergency epinephrine? What is the shortcut?
0.01 mg/kg every 3-5 mins
0.1 mL/20 lbs
What kind of drug is vasopressin? What main action does it have?
vasopressor
vasoconstriction
What are 2 advantages of vasopressin over epinephrine?
- no increase in myocardial O2 demand
- not affected by acidosis
What dose is used for emergency vasopressin? What is the shortcut?
- 0.8 U/kg every 3-5 mins
- can alternate with epinephrine every 3-5 mins
0.5 mL/20 lbs
What is a good example of the first 3 rounds of medical advanced life support?
- ASAP - Atropine and low-dose Epinephrine
- 3-5 mins later - Atropine and Vasopressin
- 3-5 mins later - Atropine and high-dose Epinephrine
When are reversal agents commonly used when a patient is arresting?
- anesthetic-related
- sedation-related
- hepatic encephalopathy = increased BZD, typically caused by portosystemic shunts, hepatic lipidosis, or hepatic failure