CPR

Question 1

What are the three key features of cardiopulmonary arrest?

Answer 1

(Loss of consciousness, loss of normal, spontaneous breathing, and loss of palpable pulses)

Question 2

What are some of the common preceding events to cardiopulmonary arrest?

Answer 2

(Bradycardia, worsening mentation, sudden increase in vagal tone, and sudden changes in breathing pattern)

Question 3

How many breaths per minute should be administered during CPR?

Answer 3

(8-12 breaths/min)

Question 4

How do the cardiac and thoracic pump theories differ?

Answer 4

(What they are (cardiac pump is actually pumping the heart vs thoracic is changing the intrathoracic pressure to pump the heart) and what patients they are used on (15 kg or lighter should get cardiac pump, everything bigger gets thoracic))

Question 5

How many chest compressions per minute should be administered during CPR?

Answer 5

(100 compressions per minute)

Question 6

Why should you allow the chest to completely recoil prior to your next chest compression during CPR?

Answer 6

(To allow maximal venous return to the heart)

Question 7

Describe the following arrest rhythms and state whether they are a shockable rhythm or not:

• Asystole
• Pulseless electrical activity
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Answer 7

Asystole (Your classic flat line, NOT shockable)
Pulseless electrical activity (ECG shows normal electrical waves just slower than the should be but the animal has no pulse, NOT shockable)
Ventricular fibrillation (Erratic waves that have no rhyme or reason, shockable)
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia (Looks like vtach would in a live animal but this animal has no pulse, tall peaks with no distinguishable q or t waves, shockable)

Question 8

What is the purpose of defibrillation in cases where it is appropriate?

Answer 8

(It’s in the name, defibrillation, you’re shocking (de) the heart so it stops freaking out (fibrillation) and it can return to normal electrical activity)

Question 9

What are the two more commonly used CPR drugs?

Answer 9

(Epinephrine and atropine (more useful for before arrest when patients are bradycardic), all other drugs should be considered on a case by case basis)

Question 10

How often should epinephrine be administered?

Answer 10

(Every 4 minutes so every two rounds of CPR)

Question 11

(T/F) Lidocaine can reduce the likelihood of successful defibrillation.

Answer 11

(T, it suppresses ventricular activity including escape beats (which are kinda important for CPR))

Question 12

Fluid therapy is only appropriate for cases of CPA involving what type of patients?

Answer 12

(Hypovolemic patients, if done in patients who are not hypovolemic fluids can reduce coronary perfusion)

Question 13

What is the best indication of return to spontaneous circulation?

Answer 13

(A spike in end tidal CO2)