What are the shockable rhythms in cardiac arrest?

ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pulseless VT)

What are the non-shockable rhythms in cardiac arrest?

asystole/pulseless-electrical activity (asystole/PEA)

In cardiac arrest the ratio of chest compressions to ventilation is what?

30:2

if the cardiac arrested is witnessed in a monitored patient (e.g. in a coronary care unit) how does the ALS algorithm differ?

the 2015 guidelines recommend 'up to three quick successive (stacked) shocks', rather than 1 shock followed by CPR

In cardiac arrest if IV access is not obtainable what's the next step?

drugs should be given via the intraosseous route (IO)

When is adrenaline used in non-shockable rhythms?

as soon as possible

When is adrenaline used in shockable rhythms?

adrenaline 1 mg is given once chest compressions have restarted after the third shock

Whats the dose of adrenaline used in cardiac arrest

1 mg

In cardiac arrest: amiodarone {{c1::300 mg}} should be given to patients who are in VF/pulseless VT after {{c2::3}} shocks have been administered. a further dose of amiodarone {{c3::150 mg}} should be given to patients who are in VF/pulseless VT after {{c4::5}} shocks have been administered

When is lidocaine used in cardiac arrest?

Can be used as an alternative if amiodarone is not available or a local decision has been made to use lidocaine instead

When are thrombolytic drugs used in cardiac arrest?

should be considered if a pulmonary embolus is suspected

If thrombolytic drugs are used in cardiac arrest how long must CPR continue for?

60-90 minutes to allow for thrombolytic drugs to take full effect

What are the reversible causes of cardiac arrest?

The 'Hs'

• Hypoxia
• Hypovolaemia
• Hyperkalaemia, hypokalaemia, hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia, acidaemia and other metabolic disorders
• Hypothermia

The 'Ts'

• Thrombosis (coronary or pulmonary)
• Tension pneumothorax
• Tamponade – cardiac
• Toxins