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The two "shockable" rhythms are ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, while the two "non-shockable" rhythms are asystole and pulseless electrical activity. [65] Moreover, in the post-resuscitation patient, a 12-lead EKG can help identify some causes of cardiac arrest, such as STEMI which may require specific treatments.
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a form of cardiac arrest in which the electrocardiogram shows a heart rhythm that should produce a pulse, but does not.Pulseless electrical activity is found initially in about 20% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests [1] and about 50% of in-hospital cardiac arrests.
Within the group of people presenting with cardiac arrest, the specific cardiac rhythm can significantly impact survival rates. Compared to people presenting with a non-shockable rhythm (such as asystole or PEA), people with a shockable rhythm (such as VF or pulseless ventricular tachycardia) have improved survival rates, ranging between 21 and ...
Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is the resumption of a sustained heart rhythm that perfuses the body after cardiac arrest. It is commonly associated with significant respiratory effort. Signs of return of spontaneous circulation include breathing, coughing, or movement and a palpable pulse or a measurable blood pressure.
An automated external defibrillator or automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, [1] and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electricity which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re ...
Even in those cases where an individual suffers a cardiac arrest with asystole and it is converted to a less severe shockable rhythm (ventricular fibrillation, or ventricular tachycardia), this does not necessarily improve the person's chances of survival to discharge from the hospital, though if the case was witnessed by a civilian, or better ...
Most adults who can be saved from cardiac arrest are in ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, which means their heart has fallen out of rhythm. [14] Early defibrillation is the link in the chain most likely to improve survival since defibrillation can help shock the heart back into a regular beat. [ 15 ]
Termination of shockable rhythms. Note: not all cardiac arrest rhythms can be treated with defibrillation. Airway Management Endotracheal intubation, supraglottic airway placement, Cricothyrotomy, waveform capnography, tracheal suctioning, naso- or oropharygeal airway placement Cleat and protect the airway to allow for adequate ventilation.