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. The resulting lack of blood supply results in cell death from oxygen starvation. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen supply to the brain, causes victims to immediately lose consciousness and stop breathing.

Treatment

First aid

Seconds count. Call for help immediately or send someone for help. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. CPR only buys time for advanced responders to arrive but does not restart the heart. If an automated external defibrillator is available, use it at once.

Related Topics:
Call for help - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - Automated external defibrillator

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Field care

Appropriately trained personnel apply advanced cardiac life support protocols as soon as they arrive, unless there is a valid do not resuscitate order or advance health directive. If so, it is ethically appropriate to permit natural death to occur in accordance with the wishes of the patient.

Related Topics:
Advanced cardiac life support - Do not resuscitate - Advance health directive - Ethically

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Hospital treatment

In many hospitals, cardiac arrest results in one of the carers announcing a "Code Blue"(or the local equivalent) for immediate response by a trained team of nurses and doctors. The resuscitating team continues advanced cardiac life support until the patient recovers or a doctor declares the patient's death.

Related Topics:
Nurse - Doctors - Advanced cardiac life support

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