ALGORITHM OF CARDIAC

ARREST SUPPORT

By : Sandip Mukherjee & Nabhanil

Bhattacharyya
PSMU – 2021
Advanced Life Support in perspective

• Chain of survival:
1. Early access to emergency services.
2. Early Basic life Support [by hands only].
3. Early defibrillation .
4. Early Advanced Life Support.

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 Causes & prevention of Cardio
respiratory arrest
• Definition: A respiratory arrest is when breathing
stops (apnea). A cardiac arrest is when the heart
stops contracting & pumping blood.

• Causes:
1. Airway problems.
2. Breathing problems.
3. Cardiovascular problems.
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 Airway Obstruction
• Complete airway obstruction will rapidly result in
cardiac arrest.
• Partial airway obstruction may lead to cerebral or
pulmonary edema , hypoxic brain damage as well
as cardiac arrest .
• Causes of airway obstruction [ blood , vomitus ,
F.B. , direct throat / face trauma , CNS depression ,
epiglottitis , epileptic fit , bronchial secretions ,
mucosal edema , laryngeospasm ,
bronchospasm ]. 4
 Cardiac Abnormalities
• Primary causes [ventricular fibrillation]:
1. Ischemia.
2. M.I.
3. Drugs [digoxin , quinidine , phenothiazide ,
tricyclic antidepressant].
4. Alcohol abuse.
5. Acidosis .
6. Abnormal electrolytes conc.[Ca, Mg & K].
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• Secondary causes of cardiac abnormalities:
1.asphyxia.
2. Apnea.
3. Acute sever blood loss.
4. Acute pulmonary edema.
5. Suffocation.
6. Hypoxemia , anemia , hypothermia , end-
stage septic shock are having longer heart effect.

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• Prevention:
1. History, examination & investigation when
needed.
2. Breathing problems is pre cardio respiratory
arrest clinical abnormalities.
3. Hypotension , confusion , restlessness lethargy
& L.O.C. should be considered .
4. Metabolic abnormalities particularly acidosis.
5. Consider ICU admission in your plan.

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 Ventilation
• Face mask: [ 45 - 50% if more than 6 L/m ].
• Nasal Cannulae: [ 30 - 35% on 3 L/m].
• Ventorie: [ 24 – 90% ].
• Non re-breathing mask: [ 90% ].
• Laryngeal mask airway: [100% ].
• Endo tracheal tube: [100% ].
• Needle cricothyroidotomy: [full neck extension ,
feel the cricoid & prick 0.5 cm below it ].
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 Cardiac Monitoring & rhythm
Recognition
• Remember: Treat the patient not the ECG.
• A normal HR is defined as 60 –100 b/m , a rate
below 60 is known as bradycardia & a rate of 100
is known as tachycardia.
• Rhythms causing cardiac arrest:
1. Supra-ventricular tachycardia [ above bundle
of His bifurcation ].
2. Ventricular tachycardia [distal to bifurcation].
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• Supra-ventricular tachycardia:
1. Atrial fibrillation: [absent P wave & normal
QRS complex].
2.Atrial flutter: [there is P wave but saw tooth in
appearance & rate more than 200/m (250-
300/m) with regular QRS complex].
3.supra-ventricular tachycardia: [ you might find
P wave or not , because it might start from A/V
node ].

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• Ventricular tachycardia:
1.wide QRS complex.
2. rare more than 100/m.
3. may sustain for more than 30 seconds (take it
seriously). But if it was for less than 30 seconds it
might be d.t. lytes imbalance or hypoxia.

• Ventricular Fibrillation :
1. no pulse.
2. ECG show absent QRS & T wave & replaced by cont.,
very rapid, bizarre, irregular appearance of apparently
random frequency & amplitude.

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 Drugs & Their delivery
• Priority in drug delivery :
1. central line [30 seconds].
2. Peripheral line [5 minutes].
3. E.T. Tube [but we double or triple the IV dose].
4. Intra Cardiac [ not used any more]:
a) technically difficult.
b) while doing the procedure CPR should stopped.
c) high rate of complications:
1.coronary laceration.
2.intra mural injections.
3.pneumothorax.
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 Defibrillation
• We paralyze the heart, to let S. A. Node to start
working again .
• The delay in DC >>>the sever the arrhythmia
>>> less favorable prognosis & less responsive to
treatment.
• Types:
1. Synchronized Cardio-version.
2. A synchronized Cardio-version.
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 1. Synchronized Cardio-version:
if is used to convert Atrial or ventricular tach., it is
important that the shock is synchronized to occur
with the R wave of the ECG rather than with the T
wave.
2. A synchronized Cardio-version:
it will shock at any ECG phase ,& it can cause
ventricular fibrillation.
• Mechanism of action:
1. Monophasic:
receive single burst, 1 pad to another & don’t come
back.
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 2. Biphasic :
less Jules (electric shock waves move from 1 pad to
the other then go in reverse direction).

Types of Biphasic Defibrillator:

1. Manual (which we are using).
2. Shock Advisor (for non-expert people),with big
electrodes they can read the rhythm then talk or
write the order to be done.
3. Automated External (you just connect it to the
patient & it will work & calculate the electric wave
by it self & when to give it).
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• Position:
1. Right of the upper sternum below the clavicle
2. left 5th inter-costal space ant. Axillary's line.
• Technique:
1. apply pressure to the paddle [10kg] to decrease
thoracic impedance (the distance by pr. The fat).
2. keep the defibrillator paddles at least 12.5 cm from
the pace maker if there is.
3. Keep oxygen flow away from from paddle (not to kill
the patient by burning instead of arrest)
4. Don’t remove the paddle until 3 DC shock performed.

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 Treatment of Algorithms
• During CPR:

[If not already]

1. Check electrode/paddle position & contact.
2. Attempt/verify airway ,oxygen & IV access.
3. Give adrenaline every 3 minutes (cycle).
4. Consider :
a. Anti-arrhythmic.
b. Atropine.

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[Correct Reversible causes (4 H’s & 4T’s)]
1. Hypoxia.
2. Hypovolemia.
3. Hypo/Hyperkalemia & metabolic disorders.
4. Hypothermia.
5. Tension pneumothorax.
6. Tamponade.
7. Toxic/Therapeutic disturbances.
8. Thrombo-embolic/mechanical obstruction.
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 Management of VF/pulse-less VT
In each CPR cycle we provide:
 1mg adrenaline IV.
 3 DC shocks (200, 200, & 360
joules).
 1 minute CPR.

Then after 1 min. CPR 3 DC shocks

(each 360 joules)+ 1 minute CPR &
adrenaline.

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 Algorithm for management of non VF/VT
rhythms
In case of a systole there is no
rule of DC shock unless fine VF.
1mg adrenaline + 3mg
atropine.(USA)
3mg atropine but 0.5mg every
3 min & total of 3mg + 1mg
adrenaline in each cycle.
Post DC shock heart can enter
into a systole for 15 sec. Then
return to normal.

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Cardiac Arrest in special Circumstances
Hypothermia.
Near drowning.
Pregnancy.
Poisoning.
Electrocution.
Anaphylaxis.
Acute severe asthma.

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 Hypothermia
• Hypothermia exist when the body core temp. falls below 35C.
• (A&B) with high conc. Warm O2.
• (C) palpate a major artery for a minimum of 1 minute before
concluding that there is no C.O.P.
• As body temp. falls sinus bradycardia A.F.  V.F. finally a
systole. When core temp < 30C ; VF will not respond to
cardioversion or drugs. Arrhythmias other than VF tend to revert
spontaneously as the core temp rises [in open heart surgery when
we rise temp 33C the heart rate pick up systole & sinus rhythm].
• Rewarming:
1) Remove cold wet clothing ASAP & cover with blankets.
2) Warm bathes (40C).

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• Severe hypothermia (<28C) [maintain in ICU for 24 hrs]:
1) Ventilate with warm humidified O2.
2) I.V. warm Fluids (40C).
3) Gastric, peritoneal, or pleural lavage with warm fluids
(@40C).
4) Heated blankets.
5) Blood rewarming by haemodialysis or cardiopulmonary
bypass.

N.B:
- U.O.P. increase with hypothermia
- Hypothermia promotes the transfer of fluid from the
circulation into the tissues.
- Warm slowly (1 degree/30 minutes).
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 Near Drowning
• Associated with hypothermia & beadycardia.
• Defined as asphyxiation in fluid (water).
• Respiratory arrest 1ry event & cardiac arrest is 2ry event.
• BLS & ALS shouldn’t be less than 45 min.
• Placed horizontally & head down ( to prevent aspiration &
regurgitation).
• In 10% of cases no fluid is aspirated (dry drowning due to spasm).
• Hospitalization is needed for:
- Secondary pulmonary edema.
- ARDS (aspirated fluid).
• Patient can be discharged after 6 hrs if clinically, ABG, CXR normal.

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 Pregnancy

• Two people to resuscitate.

• Causes of maternal cardiac arrest:
- Hemorrhage.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Amniotic fluid embolism.
- Placental abruption.
- Eclampcia.
• After 5 minutes of unsuccessful in-hospital resuscitation, emergency
C/S is indicated to save the fetus (in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy).

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 Poisoning

• A.B.C. & NO mouth to mouth breathing.

• Increase risk of pulmonary edema, aspiration, early
intubation is recommended in thermal injury & airway
burns.
• Arrhythmias commonly results from the ingestion of drugs
with negative inotropic action (treatment is with positive
inotropic drugs i.e. adrenaline & dobutamine).

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• Antidote:
- Opiod X Naloxone 1.2mg
- Bradyarrhythmia X atropine 2mg or isoprenaline 10-100ug/min.
- B.blockers X glucagon 5mg IV.
- Organophosphate insecticides X high-dose atropine.
- Cyanides X dicobalt edetate.
- Digoxin toxicity X digoxin specific FAB.
• Pass NGT & lavage stomach from ingested toxins & give activated
charcoal.

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 Electrocution

• The severity of injury depends on the area & the magnitude &
the path of the current.
• Electricity tends to pass along muscles, nerves & vessels. It may
therefore paralyze the respiratory muscles or disturb the
myocardium, leading to respiratory or cardiac arrest (V.
Fibrillation, immediate asystole, extra pace maker).
• Electrocution is like a bullet goes in & out, but if it remains in it
will settle at the heart.
• Those who have survived an electric shock should be
monitored in hospital if they have suffered (L.O.C, cardiac
arrest, ECG abnormalities, contact injury)

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 Anaphylaxis
• Due to (insect bite, food, blood products & drugs) IgE Anti bodies 
histamine release  increase vascular permeability & peripheral V.D.
( decrease V.R. & C.O.P.)  sudden collapse & death.
• Anaphylactoid reaction (there is no IgE mediators & no previous
sensitization).
• Resuscitation with:
1) 100% oxygen.
2) Adrenaline (if stridor, wheeze or respiratory distress) 0.5cc 1/1000 I.M. &
repeat Q5 minutes if no clinical improvement is clear.
3) CPR or ALS.
4) Antihistamines.
5) Hydrocortisone.
6) IV Colloids.

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 Acute Severe Asthma

• Normal or low PCO2.

• Resuscitated with:
1) ABGs.
2) Intubation.
3) Exclude pneumothorax & consider open cardiac
message.
• Resist arrhythmias in case of metabolic disorders.

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 Peri-arrest
• Arrhythmias complications of M.I. & in certain circumstances may
also precede ventricular fibrillation, named :
1. Bradycardia.
2. Broad complex tachycardia (90% ventricular in origin).
3. Narrow complex tachycardia (90%atrial in origin).

• Principle of treatment:
1. How is the patient ?
2. What is the arrhythmia ?

• Three options available in the immediate treatment of

arrhythmias:
1. Cardio-version.
2. Anti-arrhythmic & other drugs.
3. Cardiac pacing.
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• Bradycardia:
blood pressure < 90 mmHg.
• Broad complex tachycardia:
1) Pulse  sedation  synchronize DC shock…
2) Pulseless  no C.O.P.  VF/VT.
• Narrow complex tachycardia:
1) AF > 130 b/min ask help BP < 90 mmHg synchronized
DC shock.
2) Vagal maneuver  adenosine ask help BP <90 mmHg
synchronized DC shock.

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 Cardiac Pacing

SAN (60 - 70 beats/minute).

AVN (40 -50 beats/minute) [narrow QRS].
His/Purkinje fibers (30 beats/minute) [wide QRS].

N.B.
In open heart surgery the pace maker should be 100
beats/minute to over come SAN.

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Artificial pacemakers classification:
Non-invasive:
Percussion pacing (decrease HR  decrease COP).
Transcutaneous pacing (stickers).

Invasive:
Temporary transvenous pacing (central line placed in Rt.
ventricle).
Permanent implanted pacing (catheter with patery).
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

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