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Cardiorespiratory Arrest

Cardiorespiratory arrest is the cessation of cardiac and respiratory function. It's causes includes, 4Hs and Ts:

  • Hypoxia

  • Hypovolaemia

  • Hyper/hypokalaemia

  • Hypothermia

  • Thrombosis

  • Tension pneumothorax

  • Tamponade

  • Toxins


Basic Life Support/BLS

  • Call 911 or Arrest team

  • Start ABC assessment


Advanced Life Support/ALS

  • Continue chest compressions until defibrillator is ready

  • Once ready, stop chest compressions and quickly assess whether the rhythm is shockable (VT/pulseless VT) or non-shockable (asystole/pulseless electrical activity)


Shockable rhythms - Includes Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation. Managed with CPR 30:2 + Unsynchronised shock.

  • If the rhythm is still persistent after 3 shocks, give Amiodarone 300mg IV + Adrenaline 1mg IV (1:10,000) at the same time. Adrenaline can then be repeated after every other cycle following a shock (i.e. cycles 3, 5, 7 etc.).


Non-shockable rhythms - Includes Pulseless electrical activity (normal ECG w/o a pulse) and Asystole (no QRS complexes). Managed with CPR 30:2 + IV Adrenaline 1mg.


N.B. Unsynchronised shock = Defibrillation.



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