Skip to main content

Medical Emergency- Cardiac Arrest and Basic Life Support (BLS)!

 MEDICAL EMERGENCY- CARDIAC ARREST AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

Definition:

"Cardiac Arrest is a medical emergency requiring a systematic approach".

  • Early recognition must be followed by prompt, effective application of Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques to sustain the patient until Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities are available.

Management:

The management of Cardiac Arrest is a 4-step approach:

  1. Recognition and Assessment
  2. BLS
  3. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
  4. Post-resuscitation Care


1. RECOGNITION AND ASSESMENT

Verify that the respiration and circulation have ceased:

  1. Loss of consciousness
  2. Loss of functional ventilation (respiratory arrest or inadequate respiratory effort)
  3. Loss of functional perfusion (No pulse).



2. BASIC LIFE SUUPORT (BLS)

  • The goal in cardiac arrest is the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
  • The first step towards achieving this ROSC goal is prompt initiation of BLS, where the goal is to rapidly and effectively perfuse the tissues with oxygenated blood. A delay in initiating BLS or providing ineffective BLS can result in Irreversible hypoxic (not enough oxygen to the tissues) brain injury.

  1. Summon help and resuscitation equipment.
  2. Establish adequate airway.
  3.  Provide rescue breathing by delivering two slow, deep breaths. Ventilate by mouth-to mouth, mouth-to mask, or bag-valve-mask techniques.
  4. Check for pulse and other signs of circulation. When available, assess heart rhythm with an automated external defibrillator or Monophasic/Biphasic defibrillator.

  • If ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation are documented, defibrillate with 200 joules of direct current shock.
  • If the first shock fails to terminate the dysrhythmia, a second shock with 200-300 joules should be attempted. if the first two shocks fail, shock again with 360 Joules.

      5. Reassess cardiac rhythm and check for a pulse. If no pulse or other signs of circulation are                      present, initiate rescue breathing and Chest compressions.

  • For Rescue breathing:
        Give each breathing slowly over 2 seconds.

        Deliver 1-12 breaths per minute or 1 breath every 4-5 seconds.

  • For External Chest compression:

        Position patient supine on a firm surface.

        Ensure proper placement of your hands on sternum.

        Depress sternum at a rate of 80-100 cycles per minute (50% of cycle should be compression).

        For every 15 chest compressions, give 2 breaths.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diabetes Mellitus: Non-Pharmacological Therapy--MNT!

 NON PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY  MNT Glycemic Index Dietary supplements Weight measurements Physical Activity Psychological assessment Immunizations 1. MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY (MNT)  " Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is a term used by the ADA to describe the optimal condition of caloric intake with other aspects of diabetes therapy (Insulin, Exercise, Weight loss)". The ADA has issued recommendations for three types of MNT: Primary prevention measures of MNT are directed at preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 Diabetes in high-risk individuals (obese or with pre-diabetes) by promoting weight reduction. Secondary prevention measures of MNT are directed at preventing or delaying-related complications in diabetic individuals by improving glycemic control. Tertiary prevention measures of MNT are directed at managing diabetes-related complications (cardiovascular disease, neuropathy) in diabetic individuals. Despite the popular notion, there is not any " Diabetic diet...

PNEUMONIA- Its Etiology, Pathophysiology, Classification and Severity Assessment Method!

 PNEUMONIA Definition: "Pneumonia is an infection of pulmonary parenchyma". (Harrison)                                                    OR "Pneumonia is defined as an acute respiratory illness associated with recently developed radiological pulmonary shadowing which may be segmental, lobar or multilobar". (Davidson) Etiology: Microorganisms gain excess to the lower respiratory tract in several ways: Aspiration from the oropharynx (most common). Inhalation of contaminated droplets. Hematogenous spread. Contiguous extension. Pathophysiology of Pneumonia: Pneumonia results from proliferation of microbial pathogens at the alveolar level and the hosts response to these microorganisms.  Defensive Mechanisms against Pneumonia: The defensive mechanism against pneumonia involve: Branching architecture of tracheobronchial tree. Muco-ciliary clearance. Local...

Anatomy and the Complications Associated with Liver Diseases!

  LIVER AND THE COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRESSION OF DISEASE! Liver: The liver weighs up to 1.5kg in adults and is the 2nd largest organ in the body. Hepatocytes are the functioning unit of liver. Impairment of liver may lead to: Acute liver diseases Chronic liver diseases Liver cirrhosis Acute Liver Disease (ALD): ALD is a self-limiting episode of hepatocyte damage which in most cases spontaneously without clinical sequelae, but acute liver failure (ALF) may develop. This is a rare condition in which there is a rapid deterioration in liver function with associated encephalopathy and coagulopathy. ALF carries significant morbidity and mortality and may require emergency liver transplant. Chronic Liver Disease (CLD): CLD occurs when the longstanding cell damage causes permanent structural changes within the liver, with the loss of normal liver structure and functions. In many cases, this may lead to cirrhosis where fibrosis sears divide the liver cells into areas of rege...