Pass ACLS Tip of the Day

Our primary focus immediately following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is aimed at ensuring adequate perfusion of the patient’s vital organs and decreasing cerebral damage.

Post-arrest goals for O2 saturation, ETCO2, and BP/MAP.

Indications for use of an antiarrhythmic after ROSC.

Determining which antiarrhythmic to use post cardiac arrest.

Administration of Amiodarone or Lidocaine to control ventricular ectopy after ROSC.

The use of Amiodarone post arrest if no antiarrhythmics were administered prior to obtaining ROSC.

Links to other medical podcasts that cover antiarrhythmics and other AC...

Hydrogen ions is on one of the Hs in ACLS's H&T reversible causes of cardiac arrest.  When considering hydrogen ions as a cause, what we’re looking at is the patient’s pH, or acid/base balance, and conditions that affect it.

The body's normal pH.

Using patient history, ABGs, & labs to determine acidosis or alkalosis.

Common conditions/causes that may lead us to suspect acidosis.

Common conditions/causes that may lead us to suspect alkalosis.

Correcting acidosis by changing the rate of ventilations.

The indications, dose...

Being the team leader during a cardiac arrest is challenging.  Using an algorithm helps by standardizing & prioritizing our interventions using an If/Then methodology.

Review of BLS steps for determining if rescue breathing or CPR is needed and use of an AED for patients in cardiac arrest.

If the patient is in a non-shockable rhythm on the ECG such as PEA or asystole, we will go down the right side of the Adult Cardiac Arrest Algorithm.

If the patient is in a shockable rhythm on the ECG such as V-Fib or V-Tach, we w...

For patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with myocardial ischemia, Aspirin is the first medications we should consider along with morphine, oxygen, and nitroglycerine; if indicated & safe.

Aspirin's mechanism of action & benefits for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients.

Contraindications and considerations for aspirin’s use.

The dose and route of administration of aspirin for ACS patients.

The use of aspirin in the ACLS Stroke algorithm.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

Links:

Buy Me a Coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/paultaylor

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To pass ACLS, you will need to be able to identify common rhythms on a monitor during your mega code and ECG strips on your written exam.

If you don't normally monitor patients as part of your job, I suggest two things:

1.  Find a system for ECG interpretation that works well for you; and

2.  Practice reading ECGs every day for a few weeks before your class.

Review of normal ECG morphology of P wave, QRS complex, and T wave in lead II.

Characteristics of first degree heart block.

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In the Adult Cardiac Arrest algorithm, we should administer an antiarrhythmic medication to patients in V-Fib or pulseless ventricular tachycardia approximately two minutes after the first dose of epinephrine.

The two first-line ACLS antiarrhythmics that are generally used are Amiodarone and Lidocaine.

Review of Lidocaine dosing and administration to patients in persistent V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach.

Review of Amiodarone dosing and administration to patients in persistent V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach.

Use of antiarrhythmic infusions post-cardiac arrest to suppress ventricular ectopy.

Amiodarone use & dosing for stable patients in V-Tach with...

The tongue is the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious patient.

For patients with a decreased level of consciousness that can't control their airway, yet have an intact gag reflex, the nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) should be used as an alternative to the oropharyngeal airway (OPA).

Examples of when a NPA should be considered.

Contraindications and considerations for nasal airway insertion.

Measuring a nasal airway for appropriate length and diameter.

Insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway into the right vs left nostril.

Patients with a NPA in place...

When blood, or other fluids, accumulate in the sac around the heart it’s called a cardiac tamponade or pericardial tamponade.

The effects of tamponade on the electrical system and chambers of the heart.

Cardiac tamponade can be acute or chronic and caused by traumatic, iatrogenic, or pathological etiologies.

Common traumatic events, medical procedures, and diseases that can result in a pericardial tamponade.

Signs & symptoms of cardiac tamponade.

Treatment of cardiac tamponade with pericardiocentesis.

For additional information on cardiac tamponade, check out the Pod Resources page at Pa...

Two things have changed in recent years to aid students that don't use ACLS in their daily practice.

1.  The role of the team leader; and

2.  The ability to use your quick reference cards.

The team leader is responsible for assigning tasks and overall direction of the team but can & should ask team members for help.

Using closed-loop communication to ensure the clarity of orders and speaking up if there’s any doubt about an order or action.

Use of your course’s approved text book and quick reference cards during...

Two factors to cardiac arrest survivability that have been clearly shown to make the biggest difference is continuous, high-quality CPR and early defibrillation.

The most common dysrhythmia present during the first few minutes of cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation.

The chance of successful defibrillation decreases every minute that passes.

How our chance of successfully defibrillating a patient into a perfusing rhythm significantly changes when good CPR is delivered vs when it isn't.

Why bystander CPR is important for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes.

The role of the CPR coach.<...

Quantitative waveform capnography is used in ACLS

We can use waveform capnography with, and without, an advanced airway in place.

Monitoring end tidal CO2 during rescue breathing.

Use of capnography to objectively measure good CPR.

Capnography is a preferred method of confirming endotracheal tube (ETT) placement over x-ray during a code.

During CPR, a sudden increase in ETCO2 may indicate ROSC.

Quantitative waveform capnography use...

Patients with a narrow complex tachycardia with a rate over 150 BPM are in SVT.

Unstable patients in SVT or V-Tach with a pulse, should be cardioverted with a synchronized shock.

Assessment & treatment of stable tachycardic patients.

Commonly used vagal techniques.

A less common technique to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Indications and use of Adenosine for stable patients in SVT refractory to vagal maneuvers.

Possible treatments for patients found to be in A-Fib or A-Flutter with RVR after administration of Adenosine.

Carotid sinus massage.

...

Remembering all the different energy setting needed for synchronized cardioversion and defibrillation used to be confusing for a lot of people.

Defibrillators can be broken down into three basic categories:

1.  Automated External Defibrillator (AED);

2.  Biphasic defibrillators; and

3.  Monophasic defibrillators.

Use of an AED to rapidly deliver a shock.

Advantages & use of Biphasic defibrillators.

For monophasic defibrillators, use 360J to defibrillate V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach.

AEDs must not be used on patients with a pulse.

Cardioversion of patients in unstable SVT or V-T...

Patients with a heart rate less than 60 are bradycardic. Some people can have a resting heart rate in the 40s without any compromise.  For others, a heart rate of 50 or less could signify the need for immediate intervention and warrants additional assessment.

Signs & symptoms that indicate a bradycardic patient is unstable.

Monitoring oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry and indications for administration of oxygen.

Calcium channel blockers and beta blocker medication as treatable causes of bradycardia.

The indications and dosage of Atropine.

Precautions for Atropine use in patients with second or...

The goal of CPR is to keep the brain and vital organs perfused until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved.

Post-arrest care and recovery are the final two links in the chain of survival.

Identification of ROSC during CPR.

Initial patient management goals after identifying ROSC.

The patient’s GCS/LOC should be evaluated to determine if targeted temperature management (TTM) is indicated.

Patients that cannot obey simple commands should receive TTM for at least 24 hours.

Recently published studies on TTM and ACLS’s current standard.

The chain of survival for ACLS is the same as was learned in your BLS class.

The beginning steps of the Cardiac Emergency and Stroke chain of survival.

ACLS's timed goals for first medical contact to PCI for STEMI and door-to-needle for ischemic stroke.

Characteristics of areas that have significantly better stroke and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

Links:

Buy Me a Coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/paultaylor

Practice ECG rhythms at Dialed Medics - https...

Heart muscle contraction and repolarization is dependent on Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium ions crossing cellular membranes.

When a patient’s potassium levels get too low or too high, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia results respectively.

Two things that may lead us to suspect hypo or hyperkalemia.

Medical conditions & medications that can cause potassium imbalance.

ECG changes seen in hypo and hyperkalemia.

Critical lab values that would indicate a need for treatment.

Emergent, ACLS interventions for hypokalemia and hyperkalemia.

Additional information on causes of hypo and hyperkalemia ca...

When treating patients having an MI or stroke, more minutes equals more dead cells. 

Because the majority of strokes are the ischemic type, the treatment for stroke is similar to an MI – to reestablish perfusion to the ischemic tissues. 

The first four steps in the Stroke Chain of Survival.

Time criteria for the administration of tPA (or a similar fibrinolytic medication) or EVT of LVO strokes.

Stroke benchmarks for door to:

EMS interaction with stroke team...

Adenosine is the first IV medication given to stable patients with sustained supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) refractory to vagal maneuvers.

Symptoms indicating a stable vs unstable patient.

Common causes of tachycardia.

Cardiac effects of Adenosine.

Indications for use in the ACLS Tachycardia algorithm.

Considerations and contraindications.

Adenosine as a diagnostic for patients in A-Fib or A-Flutter with RVR.

Dosing and administration.

Other podcasts that cover common ACLS antiarrhythmics in more detail and another covering Brugata Criteria used to differentiate V-Tach from SVT with an...

To pass the written ACLS exam and mega code, students need to be able to identify basic ECG dysrhythmias, including the two types of second-degree heart block.

One method of ECG rhythm identification is to ask a series of questions such as:

ECG characteristics of a second-degree Mobitz type I (Wenckebach).

Identification of unstable bradycardia and its treatment with Atropine.

ECG...

When treating patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), MONA is an acronym sometimes used to help us remember the initial interventions.

The O in MONA is Oxygen.

When we should administer oxygen to ACS patients.

When O2 administration is unnecessary based on an accurate pulse ox.

Monitoring patient's oxygen saturation (SaO2) using a pulse oximeter.

Review two common ACLS pre-arrest mega code scenarios.

Oxygen administration during CPR and post cardiac arrest.

You can find additional medical podcasts that cover ACLS-related topics, on the Pod Resources...

Along with early defibrillation, high quality CPR with minimal interruptions is one of the two factors that has been shown to improve cardiac arrest outcomes.

How do we know if high quality, effective CPR is being performed?

Objective measures of high-quality CPR include:

The role of the CPR Coach on the code team.

The advantages and use of real-time feedback devices to monitor the rate, depth, and chest recoil of CPR compressions.

The use of end tidal...

When we should use the bradycardia algorithm.

The signs & symptoms of unstable bradycardia.

Atropine's bradycardic dose and maximum.

The use of atropine when a patient is in a second degree type II or third degree heart block.

ECG changes that indicate subsequent doses of atropine are likely to be ineffective.

The starting dose of Dopamine.

The use of Dopamine for bradycardia as an interim until TCP vs hypotension.

The use of Atropine and Dopamine in patients with myocardial ischemia.

Podcasts with additional (advanced-provider...

The tongue is the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious patient.

Insertion an oropharyngeal airway helps keep the patient’s tongue from falling to the back of the pharynx, causing an airway obstruction.

The oropharyngeal airway is sometimes called an OPA or simply an oral airway.

Indications for using an oral airway.

Contraindication for an oral airway and an alternative airway that can be used for patients with an intact gag reflex.

Measuring an OPA and possible complications from inserting one that's too small or too large.

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Hypoxia is a state of low oxygen levels in the blood. 

Determining hypoxia using a pulse oximeter or arterial blood gasses (ABGs).

A goal of ACLS is to recognize signs of hypoxia and provide timely treatment to prevent an arrest.

Examples of some things that might lead us to think of hypoxia as a cause of cardiac arrest.

Why we should not rely on pulse ox to give accurate readings during CPR.

Delivering ventilations with near 100% oxygen concentration using a BVM attached to supplemental O2 and a reservoir.

ECG characteristics of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) vs. sinus tachycardia.

Signs & symptoms that indicate a patient is unstable.

Delivery of a synchronized shock for the treatment of unstable SVT using a biphasic vs monophasic defibrillator.

Consideration for team safety while performing synchronized cardioversion.

Actions to take immediately if an unstable patient we’ve cardioverted goes into a pulseless rhythm.

Management of stable patients in SVT.

For more free information on narrow complex tachycardias, check out the pod resource page at passacls.com.

Good luck with yo...

When working to resuscitate a patient in sudden cardiac arrest, Epinephrine is the first IV medication we administer.  

When we give the first dose of epinephrine depends on whether the patient is in a shockable or non-shockable rhythm.

When to give the first dose of epinephrine and its frequency for patients in asystole or PEA following the right side of the Adult Cardiac Arrest algorithm.

When to give the first dose of epi and its frequency for patients in V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach following the left side of the Adult Cardiac Arrest algorithm.

If a person suddenly develops symptoms such as weakness, slurred or garbled speech, loss of balance, or a massive & severe headache; it’s possible they could be having a stroke.

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale.

There are several conditions that can mimic a stroke.

Identification & treatment of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Identification & treatment of hypoxia using a pulse oximeter.

Some seizures, electrolyte imbalance, sepsis, brain tumors, and Bell’s Palsy can also mimic a stroke.

Prehospital providers should transport suspected stroke patients to a stroke center following their loca...

Most ACLS medications are given IV push.  But, what happens if we can't get an IV?

Why IO is better than ETT as an alternative route.

The locations we should place an IO when running a code and a location we should avoid.

The ACLS medications that can be given intraosseous.

Where you can find more information about intraosseous access during resuscitation efforts.

In the absence of an IV or IO, some medications may be given down the endotracheal tube.

The disadvantages of medication administration via ETT.

The chain of survival for a cardiac emergency and stroke start the same:

1.  preparedness & recognition of an emergency;

2.  activation of EMS;

3.  delivery of Advanced Life Support; and

4.  transporting to the most appropriate facility.

ALS ambulances are staffed with paramedics who have training in ACLS skills.

Why EMS "Destination Protocols" for suspected stroke and STEMI make a difference.

ACLS’s timed benchmarks for: