Resuscitation: Basics
Q: What is cardiac arrest and how does it present?
A: Cessation of the blood circulation due to heart pump failure. The patient will be unconscious and pulseless.
Q: What is the aim of Basic Life Support (BLS)
A: To provide oxygenated blood to the heart and brain, thus reducing risk of myocardial or cerebral infarct.
Q: How is Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) different from BLS?
A: ACLS includes more advanced airway techniques, delivery of drugs and the use of electrical defibrillation. Its overall aim is to return spontaneous circulation while BLS maintains circulation by external compressions.
Q: What is the outcome of cardiac arrest and what affects rate of survival?
A: Survival to go home is poor, around 22.3% to 25.5% for all in-hospital sudden cardiac arrests., Favourable outcome is primarily associated with 3 factors: Ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia on onset (rather than asystole or pulseless electrical activity), early compression, and early defibrillation (when appropriate).
Next page: Basic Life Support (BLS)