ACLS

Defibrillate then Give Adrenaline for IHCA

EMKF

Guidelines recommend prompt defibrillation for treatment of in-hospital cardiac arrest due to an initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation (or pulseless ventricular tachycardia) Epinephrine (adrenaline) is recommended only when patients remain in refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia after many defibrillation attempts. Use of epinephrine before defibrillation is associated with lower odds of survival to discharge and of favourable neurological survival, probably due to lower odds of achieving return of spontaneous circulation

Approach to Chest Pain

EMKF

Clinical factors that INCREASE likelihood of ACS/AMI:

  • CP radiating bilaterally > right > left
  • Diaphoresis associated with CP
  • N/V associated with CP
  • Pain with exertion

Clinical factors that DECREASE likelihood of ACS/AMI:
Chest pain that is:

  • Pleuritic
  • Positional
  • Sharp, stabbing
  • Reproducible with palpation

ACLS REVISION: Post ROSC Care

EMKF

Once we’ve achieved ROSC our job is not over. Good post-arrest care involves maintaining blood pressure and cerebral perfusion, adequate sedation, cooling and preventing hyperthermia, considering antiarrhythmic medications, optimization of tissue oxygen delivery while avoiding hyperoxia, getting patients to PCI who need it, and looking for and treating the underlying cause.