Any
individual, regardless of his or her age can be at the receiving end of a
sudden cardiac arrest. There are various traumatic and medical conditions that
can lead to cardiac arrest in both adults and children. For example, electrical
abnormalities, inherited disorders and structural changes in the heart can lead
to cardiac arrest. Determining and treating the cause of cardiac arrest is
critical to improving patient outcomes. The best way to deal with cardiac
arrest scenarios is by going for a CPR class Columbus.
Being a
resident of the Columbus region in Ohio, you can sign up for a program at the
AHA accredited CPR Columbus where both theoretical and practical training are
imparted to the students.
When it
comes to cardiac arrest, fortunately, many causes are reversible, including
some conditions which are often referred to by the mnemonic “H’s and T’s”:
Hypoxia: Hypoxia is a deficiency in the
level of oxygen that reaches the tissues which can occur due to a variety of
conditions like lung disorders i.e. COPD and asthma. The condition can be
reversed by administering oxygen either through BiPAP, a mechanical ventilator,
or oxygen mask if the patient has spontaneous respirations.
Hypothermia: It is not a common cause but hypothermia
can also lead to cardiac arrest. When the body’s core temperature drops below
30 degrees Celsius, cardiac output is decreased, which can lead to cardiac
arrest. The body may not respond to CPR and defibrillation during the
hypothermic state, thus rewarming should be implemented as soon as possible. Passive
external rewarming or active internal rewarming may be indicated depending on
how low the body temperature is.
Hydrogen Ion (Acidosis): Acidosis can be either
metabolic or respiratory. Either cause can lead to cardiac arrest. An arterial
blood gas is a quick and accurate method to determine if a patient is acidotic.
If a patient has respiratory acidosis, he can be treated by providing adequate
ventilation. Sodium bicarbonate administration can treat metabolic acidosis.
Tension Pneumothorax: A tension pneumothorax develops
when there is a buildup of air in the pleural space which causes a shift in the
mediastinum and venous return to the heart is obstructed, which can lead to
cardiac arrest. Signs of a tension pneumothorax may include unequal breath
sounds, tracheal deviation, difficult ventilation and JVD. The condition can be
treated with a needle decompression and/or insertion of a chest tube.
Tamponade (Cardiac): This is another reversible cause of
cardiac arrest. The condition occurs when fluid or blood fills the pericardium
which puts pressure on the heart and prevents the ventricles from filling
properly. It may be caused by trauma to the chest such as a gunshot wound or by
inflammation of the pericardium. What is needed in this regard to remove the
fluid is a pericardiocentesis or a thoracotomy.
Toxins- Ingestion of toxins or an overdose
of some type of medication or street drug is one of the most common causes of
cardiac arrest. One sign of cardiac arrest due to a drug overdose is a
prolonged QT interval. In addition to supportive care, a reversing agent may be
administered like Narcan which can reverse the effects of narcotic overdose.
Some other
reversible causes are Hypovolemia, Hypokalemia/Hyperkalemia, Thrombosis
Pulmonary and Thrombosis Coronary.
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