Cardiac Arrest and Cardiac Issues

The first time I was dispatched out to a Cardiac Arrest, I sat there and wondered why EMS is being called to a Cardiac Arrest? If a person is getting arrested, shouldn't the police respond?

Contrary to popular belief, a Cardiac Arrest does not involve Police, handcuffs, and jail!

 All patients who complain of chest pain should be receive a 12-lead ECG to inspect their heart, although not a definitive diagnosis tool, it sure can help with recognizes myocardial infarction's (the same thing as a heart attack), ischemia, atrial or ventricular hypertrophy's, PE's, hyperkalemia, and other such wonderful things. It is important to gather a detailed history (not dating history, but medical history), and physical exam. Do you note any diaphresis? Shortness of breath? Edema? Color, condition, temperature of their skin? Aspirin should not be withheld from a patient who is complaining of chest pain as long as they do not have an allergy it or GI bleed.

Aysytole/Pulseless Electrical Activity-
The heart is making any mechanical beat at all. You must begin CPR and deliver 1 mg of epinephrine 1:10000 immediately, refer to ACLS guidelines.

V-Fib/Pulseless V-Tach
Start compressions and defibrillate ASAP, your drug of choice is going to be Epinephrine 1:10000 and Amiodarone. Consult ACLS algorithm for this as well.



Now a rhythm that I have been waiting to see in real life but have not, based on my favorite TV show ever:

If any of you see the QRS make that heart complex, please send me a copy!

Lastly, as  I always tell my patients: