Wednesday, January 2, 2013

ALS Pearls for MCEM B Part 1


ALS Resuscitation Pearls:

High Quality CPR: Rate at least 100 per minute, Depth 5 – 6 cms, allowing full elastic recoil, and minimizing interruptions.

Fine VF that is difficult to distinguish from asystole should be treated as asystole with good quality CPR

Atropine is no longer recommended for PEA and Asystole (These rhythms are primarily due to myocardial pathology and not due to increased vagal tone

Reversible Causes:
4 H’s Hypoxia, hypovolemia, Hypo/Hyperkalemia (Metabolic), Hypothermia
4 T’s  Thrombosis (pulmonary/Coronary), Tamponade, Toxins, Tension Pneumothorax

When defibrillating the pre-shock pause should be kept to a minimum (less than 5 sec) by planning ahead, continuing chest compressions during charging, and using a brief safety check

Adrenaline 1 mg should be given as soon as IV/IO access (endotracheal medications have been de-emphasized) is gained in asystole/PEA and after the third shock in VF/VT

Amiodarone 300 mg IV is given after the third shock after VF/VT

Capnography should be used, if available, in an intubated patient to confirm and monitor the tube placement, quality of CPR, and to provide early recognition of ROSC

If thrombolysis is given for massive PE in cardiac arrest, CPR should be continued for 60 – 90 mins

Therapeutic hypothermia should be considered in comatose survivors of shockable and non-shockable rythms.

(Courtesy: Victoria Stacey, 2011)

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