Cardiac Arrest Management

Question 1

BLS basics

Answer 1

-Safe environment
-Recognition of cardiac arrest
-Calling for help
-Delivering high quality chest compressions
-Safely using a defibrillator

Question 2

Using an automated external defibrillator

Answer 2

-CPR until AED arrives
-2 rescuers continue CPR- when AED arrives, compressions continue as second person attaches defibrillator
-Turn on, listen, do

Question 3

Recognising a deteriorating patient

Answer 3

-ABCDE
-NEWS

Question 4

Airway management skills

Answer 4

-Head tilt
-Chin lift
-Jaw thrust
-Oropharyngeal/ nasopharyngeal

Question 5

Management of choking

Answer 5

-Encourage coughing
-5 back blows
-5 abdominal thrusts

Question 6

Recognition of cardiac arrest

Answer 6

-Shockable= VF/ pulseless VT
-Non-shockable= PEA (pulseless electrical activity)/ Asystole

Question 7

Drugs in cardiac arrest

Answer 7

-Amiodarone (shockable, 300mg after 3 shocks, further lower dose after 5 shocks)
-Adrenaline (non-shockable= 1mg repeated every 3-5 mins, shockable= 1mg after 3rd shock then every 3-5 mins)

Question 8

Reversible causes of cardiac arrest

Answer 8

These are often referred to as the “4 H’s and 4 T’s” :

-Hypoxia
-Hypovolaemia
-Hypo/Hyperkalaemia
-Hypo/Hyperthermia

-Thrombosis – Coronary or Pulmonary
-Tension Pneumothorax
-Cardiac Tamponade
-Toxins