During a sudden cardiac arrest in a victim, CPR and early
defibrillation are two most important lifesaving techniques that you
can employ in a patient who has suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest
or has suffered an accidental choking or drowning. Defibrillation is
the process of using automated external defibrillators or AED'S for
the identification of cardiac rhythms which can be separated in two
groups which are "shockable rhythms", those responsive to
defibrillation and "non-shockable rhythms", those
unresponsive to defibrillation. There is an ACLS algorithm which you
should follow while providing good CPR to a critically ill patient.
The process of CPR includes the delivery of chest compressions at the
rate of approximately 100-120 per minute, while minimising
interruptions to compressions at all times.
Assess
The Rhythm Of The Victim.
Attach the pads of the defibrillator on the patient's chest as soon
as the defibrillator is available to you and analyse the rhythm.
Ventricular fibrillation and the pulseless ventricular tachycardia
are considered to be the shockable rhythms in a cardiac arrest. In
such a case, administer a single shock and resume with the CPR for 2
minutes after delivery of the shock. There are 4 rhythms which
produces a cardiac arrest out of which the above mentioned two
rhythms are shockable rhythms and asystole and pulseless electrical
activity are the non-shockable rhythms. The American HeartAssociation CPR class Nashville will provide you with an
all-round and comprehensive training in the techniques of CPR which
will be useful for you in overcoming critical situations.
How
To Administer CPR During A Cardiac Arrest Which Is Produced Out Of
Shockable Rhythms?
The shockable rhythms which produces a cardiac arrest in a victim are
ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. If
the cardiac arrest is produced from these two rhythms, defibrillation
becomes a process of paramount importance along with CPR for
maintaining myocardial and cerebral viability. The ACLS algorithms
that you should follow are:
- During CPR, potential causes of the arrest are sought and accordingly advanced life support interventions are applied to the victim.
- Unless responsiveness and normal breathing of the victim becomes apparent, continue with 2 minutes of CPR after each defibrillation. See to it that the defibrillator is properly charged during CPR at the end of 2 minutes loop so that there is less interruptions to the process of CPR.
- Then re-assess the rhythm and proceed with the treatment as necessary and if during the assessment there is an interruption in CPR then a further 2-minute period of CPR is recommended prior to delivering further shocks to the victim.
- If you have failed in the process of defibrillation twice, administer a vasopressor to the victim at a dose of around 1 mg and if you have failed thrice then administer an anti-arrhythmic which is amiodarone at a dose of around 300 mg. This is the sequence of escalated advanced life support which you can consider during CPR.
It will be better on your part if you sign up for CPR classes from a
premier training institute as you will be well-versed with all the
techniques related to CPR.
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