Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
questions and answers
What does ACLS stand for?
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
What is one treatment algorithm used in ACLS for cardiac arrest?
Ventricular fibrillation/Ventricular Tachycardia
What is another treatment algorithm used in ACLS for cardiac arrest?
Asystole/Pulseless Electrical Activity
What special consideration is included in ACLS protocols?
In Pregnancy
What is a consideration for ACLS in relation to infectious diseases?
In Suspected or Confirmed COVID Positive Patients
What is a key aspect of care after a cardiac arrest in ACLS?
Post-Arrest Care
What type of arrhythmias are addressed in ACLS?
Perfusing Arrhythmias
What is a treatment focus in ACLS for slow heart rates?
Symptomatic Bradycardia
What is a treatment focus in ACLS for fast heart rates with a pulse?
Adult Tachycardia with a Pulse
What type of emergencies does ACLS address related to opioids?
Opioid Associated Emergencies
What organization provides guidelines for ACLS?
American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council
Basic Life Support (BLS) Focus on Cardiac Arrest
Early recognition of cardiac arrest
High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR)
,Early defibrillation with AED
Goal to provide high-quality CPR until ACLS providers arrive or patient is responsive
Early recognition of cardiac arrest
Is the patient responsive?
Look for breathing and check for a pulse
Activate the emergency response system
Get an automated external defibrillator (AED)
High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR)
Chest compressions
Rescue breaths
What is the survival rate for witnessed ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest with immediate bystander
CPR and defibrillation?
41-74%
How much can CPR and AED increase survival rates for ventricular fibrillation compared to early CPR
alone?
It may double the survival rate.
What does Basic Life Support (BLS) prioritize during a cardiac arrest?
It ensures the most important interventions happen immediately.
What types of interventions are not prioritized in Basic Life Support during cardiac arrest?
IV access, oxygen, advanced airways, monitors, further diagnosis, or medication.
First things first, just like in BLS...
Is the patient responsive? Do they have a pulse?
ACLS in-hospital initial emergency treatments
Give oxygen
Maintain patient airway or obtain an advanced airway
Attach monitor/defibrillator
Obtain IV access
Obtain vital signs, if a pulse is present
Initiate CPR
, Further work-up/monitoring
Post-resuscitation care
When performing the ACLS algorithms, you ARE PART of the emergency response system
This ACLS team allows multiple interventions simultaneously
No less focus on immediate recognition, CPR, and defibrillation when appropriate
What should be done if there is apnea or agonal breathing?
Assist with ventilation.
What ventilation method is used if there is no advanced airway?
Bag mask ventilation.
What is the compression to ventilation ratio in CPR?
30:2.
What device is used to maintain airway patency?
Oropharyngeal airway.
What is another device used to maintain airway patency?
Nasopharyngeal airway.
What should be attached to provide additional oxygen?
Supplemental oxygen.
Airway and Breathing: Advanced Airways
Pauses in CPR should be minimized when placing an advanced airway ( Exception in COVID-19 patients:
prioritize intubation (pause chest compressions for CPR))
Advanced airway options
Endotracheal (ET) tube (preferred)
Rescue devices if ET tube not possible
Rescue devices if ET tube not possible
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA)
Laryngeal tube (King airway)
in the setting of advanced airways what is the breath to chest compression ratio?
1 breath every 6 seconds or 10 breaths per min continually with continuous chest compressions
What confirms and monitors ET placement?
waveform capnography
questions and answers
What does ACLS stand for?
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
What is one treatment algorithm used in ACLS for cardiac arrest?
Ventricular fibrillation/Ventricular Tachycardia
What is another treatment algorithm used in ACLS for cardiac arrest?
Asystole/Pulseless Electrical Activity
What special consideration is included in ACLS protocols?
In Pregnancy
What is a consideration for ACLS in relation to infectious diseases?
In Suspected or Confirmed COVID Positive Patients
What is a key aspect of care after a cardiac arrest in ACLS?
Post-Arrest Care
What type of arrhythmias are addressed in ACLS?
Perfusing Arrhythmias
What is a treatment focus in ACLS for slow heart rates?
Symptomatic Bradycardia
What is a treatment focus in ACLS for fast heart rates with a pulse?
Adult Tachycardia with a Pulse
What type of emergencies does ACLS address related to opioids?
Opioid Associated Emergencies
What organization provides guidelines for ACLS?
American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council
Basic Life Support (BLS) Focus on Cardiac Arrest
Early recognition of cardiac arrest
High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR)
,Early defibrillation with AED
Goal to provide high-quality CPR until ACLS providers arrive or patient is responsive
Early recognition of cardiac arrest
Is the patient responsive?
Look for breathing and check for a pulse
Activate the emergency response system
Get an automated external defibrillator (AED)
High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR)
Chest compressions
Rescue breaths
What is the survival rate for witnessed ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest with immediate bystander
CPR and defibrillation?
41-74%
How much can CPR and AED increase survival rates for ventricular fibrillation compared to early CPR
alone?
It may double the survival rate.
What does Basic Life Support (BLS) prioritize during a cardiac arrest?
It ensures the most important interventions happen immediately.
What types of interventions are not prioritized in Basic Life Support during cardiac arrest?
IV access, oxygen, advanced airways, monitors, further diagnosis, or medication.
First things first, just like in BLS...
Is the patient responsive? Do they have a pulse?
ACLS in-hospital initial emergency treatments
Give oxygen
Maintain patient airway or obtain an advanced airway
Attach monitor/defibrillator
Obtain IV access
Obtain vital signs, if a pulse is present
Initiate CPR
, Further work-up/monitoring
Post-resuscitation care
When performing the ACLS algorithms, you ARE PART of the emergency response system
This ACLS team allows multiple interventions simultaneously
No less focus on immediate recognition, CPR, and defibrillation when appropriate
What should be done if there is apnea or agonal breathing?
Assist with ventilation.
What ventilation method is used if there is no advanced airway?
Bag mask ventilation.
What is the compression to ventilation ratio in CPR?
30:2.
What device is used to maintain airway patency?
Oropharyngeal airway.
What is another device used to maintain airway patency?
Nasopharyngeal airway.
What should be attached to provide additional oxygen?
Supplemental oxygen.
Airway and Breathing: Advanced Airways
Pauses in CPR should be minimized when placing an advanced airway ( Exception in COVID-19 patients:
prioritize intubation (pause chest compressions for CPR))
Advanced airway options
Endotracheal (ET) tube (preferred)
Rescue devices if ET tube not possible
Rescue devices if ET tube not possible
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA)
Laryngeal tube (King airway)
in the setting of advanced airways what is the breath to chest compression ratio?
1 breath every 6 seconds or 10 breaths per min continually with continuous chest compressions
What confirms and monitors ET placement?
waveform capnography
