Cardiac Arrest

Question 1

What happens in cardiac arrest?

Answer 1

1. No effective cardiac output
2. No oxygen reaching the organs and tissues
3. Build up of toxic waste products and ischaemia occur leading to organ failure and death
4. The human brain can only last 3 minutes

Question 2

What is the chain of survival?

Answer 2

1. Early recognition and call for help
2. Early cpr
3. Early defibrillation
4. Post resucitation care

Question 3

What are two shockable rhythms?

Answer 3

1. Ventricular tachycardia

2. Ventricular fibrillation

Question 4

What are the 4H’s and 4 T’s?

Answer 4

Hypoxia (lack of oxygen)
Hypovolemia (decreased liquid volume of blood (plasma))
Hypothermia (low temperature)
Hyper/hypokalaemia

Tension pneumothorax
Cardiac temonade (fluid In lungs)
Toxins
Thromboembolism

Question 5

What is capillary refill time?

Answer 5

Less than 2 seconds otherwise this indicates inadequate circulation