V Fib & Cardiac Arrest

Question 1

what are shockable rhythms?

Answer 1

• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Ventricular Fibrillation

Question 2

what are the non-shockable rhythms?

Answer 2

• PEA
  
  • all electrical activity minus VT/VF
• Asystole

Question 3

outline the reversible causes of arrest

Answer 3

4H’s 4T’s

Hypoxia

Hypo/hyperkalaemia

Hypovolaemia

Hypothermia

Tamponade

Toxins

Tension Pneumothorax

Thromboembolism

Question 4

what are the 3 main causes of arrest?

Answer 4

• VFib
  
  • best prognosis= shockable
• PEA
  
  • can be 50/50 depending on underlying cause of arrest: 4Hs and 4Ts
• Asystole
  
  • extremely poor prognosis -1/4000 chance of survival
  • causes varies

Question 5

what is the single most effective way of resuscitating someone with a shockable rhythm?

Answer 5

good CPR commenced within 4 minutes of collapse & defib within 8 minutes - increase survival chance by 30%

Question 6

aetiology of VFib?

Answer 6

• IHD
• Post-infarction
• TDP
• prolonged QT interval
• VT
• severe hypoxia

Question 7

symptoms/signs of VFib?

Answer 7

Syncope/cardiac arrest

Question 8

what does VFib look like on ECG?

Answer 8

shapeless, rapid oscillations & no organised complexes

Question 9

Rx of VFib?

Answer 9

• DC Cardioversion
• anti-arrhythmics
• IV Magensium
• cardiac pacing
• implantable cardiac defibrillator

Question 10

Complication?

Answer 10

death

Question 11

outline the algorithm for cardiac arrest

Answer 11