All about cardiac arrest  causes of cardiac arrest cardiac arrest symptoms diagnosis of cardiac arrest treatments for cardiac arrest sudden cardiac death causes of sudden cardiac death sudden cardiac death risk factors treatment for sudden cardiac death prevention of sudden cardiac death surviving recurrent cardiac arrest |
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How is cardiac arrest diagnosed?
The state of cardiac arrest is diagnosed in an unconscious (unresponsive to vigorous stimulation) person who does not have a pulse. An ECG clarifies the exact diagnosis and guides treatment. but treatment should begin without awaiting an
ECG. The ECG may reveal:
asystole (known colloquially as a flatline),
ventricular fibrillation,
ventricular tachycardia
severe bradycardia,
complete heart block with a slow ventricular escape rate
or even normal electrical activity (pulseless electrical activity, formerly called electromechanical dissociation).
Potentially treatable causes of pulseless electrical activity and some other arrhythmias include:
cardiac tamponade
tension pneumothorax
toxins or drug overdoses
thromboembolism or other mechanical obstruction
lack of oxygen (hypoxia)
potassium disturbance (hypokalemia or hyperkalemia)
hypocalcaemia
acidaemia
decreased blood volume (hypovolemia) due to haemorrhage or dehydration
hypothermia |
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More information on cardiac arrest
What is cardiac arrest? - A cardiac arrest is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract effectively during systole.
What causes cardiac arrest? - The most common underlying reason for patients to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease.
What are cardiac arrest symptoms? - Cardiac arrest symptoms include loss of consciousness, no breathing, no pulse. Prior to cardiac arrest, symptoms or warning signs include chest pain, weakness, feeling faint.
How is cardiac arrest diagnosed? - The state of cardiac arrest is diagnosed in an unconscious (unresponsive to vigorous stimulation) person who does not have a pulse.
What're the treatments for cardiac arrest? - Emergency medical technicians will quickly confirm a cardiac arrest and defibrillate the victim by sending an electrical shock through the chest.
What is sudden cardiac death? - Sudden cardiac death (also called sudden arrest) is death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function (cardiac arrest).
What causes sudden cardiac death? - Sudden cardiac death is usually caused by ventricular fibrillation. The risk for SCD is higher for anyone with heart disease.
Who's at risk of sudden cardiac death? - Underlying heart disease is nearly always found in victims of sudden cardiac death. The risk for SCD is higher for anyone with heart disease.
What're the treatments for sudden cardiac death? - When sudden cardiac death occurs, the first treatment is to establish the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. The next priority is to restore normal rhythm to the heart.
Can sudden cardiac death be prevented? - The goal of primary prevention is to decrease the risk of sudden cardiac death in those who have never had an event.
How can survive recurrent cardiac arrest? - Survivors of unexpected cardiac arrest (aborted sudden cardiac death) due to ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation are at risk for recurrent arrest. |
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