Cardiac Arrest

Presentation

Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning. The symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest can be:

• Sudden collapse
• No pulse
• No breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Blackouts
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Palpitations
• Vomiting

(Mayo Clinic. 2012)

Causes

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Cardiomyopathy
• Valvular heart disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Electrical problems in the heart

(Mayo Clinic. 2012)

Investigations

• Electrocardiogram
• Blood tests such as

         -       Cardiac enzyme test
         -       Electrolyte test
         -       Drug test.
         -       Hormone test.

• Electrical system (electrophysiological) testing and mapping
• Coronary catheterization (angiogram)

(Mayo Clinic. 2012)

Figure 1 : A heart and an ECG showing a cardiac arrest.
Source - www.australianfirstaid.com.au

Stepwise Management

Figure 2 : Cardiac arrest managementSource - resuscitation-guidelines.articleinmotion.com

• CPR - Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation is critical.
• Defibrillation
• Drugs

-   Anti-arrhythmic drugs - For emergency or long-term treatment of arrhythmias or        
                                        potential arrhythmia complications.

-    Beta blockers – Used to treat the people who are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

-    Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

-    Calcium channel blockers

-    Amiodarone (Cordarone)

• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - The ICD constantly monitors the patient’s heart rhythm. If it detects a bradycardia, it paces the heart as a pacemaker would.
• Coronary angioplasty.
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Radiofrequency catheter ablation
• Corrective heart surgery
• Heart transplantation

(Mayo Clinic. 2012)

How to perform a CPR

REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic. 2012. Mayo Clinic. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/basics/definition/con-20042982 [Accessed 27^th April 15].