Cardiorespiratory Arrest Flashcards Preview

Year 3 - CR > Cardiorespiratory Arrest > Flashcards

Flashcards in Cardiorespiratory Arrest Deck (16)
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1
Q

What is the definition of a cardiorespiratory arrest

A
  • unresponsive and not breathing
2
Q

What basic life support do you do in a cardiorespiratory arrest

A
  • Airway - head tilt and chin lift
  • Breathing - look, listen and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds, if there is any doubt whether breathing is normal proceed to chest compressions
  • Chest compressions
3
Q

Describe how chest compressions should be

A
  • rate of 100-120bpm
  • compress sternum 5-6cm
  • after 30 compressions give 2 rescue breaths
  • continue until a defibrillator is available
4
Q

What happens in advanced life support

A
  • continue chest compressions while preparing for defibrillation/moniotring
  • stop chest compressions <5s to assess rhythm
  • shockable - VF/pulselessness VT
  • non-shockable - systole/pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
5
Q

What happens if the defibrillator detects a shockable rhythm

A
  • 1 shock
  • CPR resumed immediately
  • reassess pulse/rhythm after 2 minutes of CPR
  • repeat if shockable rhythm remains
  • give drugs after 3 shocks
6
Q

What happens if there is a non shockable rhythm

A
  • Continue CPR 30:2
  • Obtain IV access and secure airway
  • Once airway secure switch to continuous compressions and ventilation
  • Give adrenaline 1mg IV
  • Check rhythm every 2min
  • Consider reversible causes (4Hs and 4Ts):
7
Q

What are the reversible causes of cardiorespiratory arrest

A

4Hs, and 4Ts

  • hypoxia
  • hypovolaemia
  • hyper/hypokalaemia
  • hypothermia
  • Thrombosis
  • Tension pneumothorax
  • Tamponade
  • Toxins
8
Q

What drugs should you give in a cardiorespiratory arrest

A
  • Give adrenaline 1mg IV every 3-5mins for both shockable (after 3rd shock) and non-shockable rhythms
  • In shockable rhythms give amiodarone 300mg IV after 3 shocks + consider further 150mg IV after 5 shocks; lidocaine is an alternative
9
Q

What does adrenaline do

A
  • increase heart rate
10
Q

What does amiodarone do

A

treat arrhythmias (VT and VF)

11
Q

What does lidocaine do

A
  • treat arrhythmias (VT and VF) by decreasing electrical activity and heart rate
12
Q

What does magnesium do

A
  • low levels can lead to arrhythmia

- magnesium sulphate can correct it

13
Q

What are the complications of cardiorespiratory arrest

A
  • ventricular fibrillation

- ventricular tachycardia

14
Q

what are predictors for poor outcome of cardiorespiratory arrest

A
  • older age
  • cardiac arrest occurring at home
  • initial rhythm other than ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia
  • longer duration of no flow
  • longer duration of low flow
  • administration of adrenaline
  • Glasgow Coma Scale moor response 1
  • lower pH
  • low partial pressure of carbon dioxide
15
Q

Who can give a DNAR decision

A

Only a doctor

  • you cannot make a DNAR decision yourself but you can request that your doctor issues one
  • it is not legally binding
16
Q

what are the things the doctor has to weigh up before issuing a DNAR

A
  • whether CPR is likely to be successful
  • whether someone is coming close to the end of their life
  • whether it will lead to poorer quality of life