Paediatric life support

Question 1

What is the primary cause of cardiac arrest in children?

Answer 1

Hypoxia and respiratory arrest

Question 2

What are the two types of congenital heart diseases?

Answer 2

Cyanotic and non-cyanotic

Question 3

What is the difference between primary and secondary cardiac arrest?

Answer 3

Primary cardiac arrest is more common in adults and is more often due to arrhythmia, if a child has a cardiac arrest it is more likely to be secondary to another condition

Question 4

What are three general causes that can lead to cardiac arrest in children?

Answer 4

• Respiratory failure
• Circulatory shock
• Neurological dysfunction

Question 5

What is tachypnoea?

Answer 5

Rapid and shallow breathing (indicated if the rate increases to 40 or 60 breaths per minute)

Question 6

What is bradypnea?

Answer 6

Abnormally slow breathing

Question 7

What is apnoea?

Answer 7

When a person stops breathing

Question 8

What is the normal heart rate for a child?

Answer 8

• Up to 12 months old, 100 - 160 beats/min
• 1 to 3 years old, 90 - 150 beats/min
• 3 to 5 years old, 80 - 140 beats/min
• 5 to 12 years old, 70 - 120 beats/min
• 12 to 18 years old, 60 - 100 beats/min

Question 9

What is the normal breathing rate for a child?

Answer 9

• 1 to 2 years old, 24 - 40 breaths/min
• 3 to 5 years old, 22 - 34 breaths/min
• 6 to 12 years old, 18 - 30 breaths/min
• 13 to 17 years old, 12 - 16 breaths/min

Question 10

What is the sequence of assessment and treatment of child in cardiac arrest?

Answer 10

1. Unresponsive?
2. Open airway
3. Not breathing normally?
4. Five rescue breaths
5. No signs of life?
6. Fifteen chest compressions
7. Two rescue breaths and fifteen compressions on rotation