In the case that the heart has a shockable rhythm, the user should make sure that no one is touching the patient and press the shock button (if using a semi-automatic model like the HeartSine Samaritan PAD 350P) or wait for the defibrillator to deliver a shock (if using a fully automatic model like the Physio-Control LIFEPAK CR2). If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, it can be used to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and indicate whether one of the two AED shockable rhythms is detected. Defibrillation for Cardiac Arrest and Defibrillation An untrained bystander should provide continuous chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute-roughly the tempo of the hit song Stayin’ Alive. If the bystander is trained in CPR, they can provide ventilation breaths in addition to chest compressions. This helps to prevent organ deterioration, brain damage, and death. In the first few vital minutes after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can help by pumping blood around the body so that it continues to reach the vital organs. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest As blood no longer reaches the vital organs (including the brain), these organs begin to suffer permanent damage and will eventually die. When the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, the heart muscle stops beating and the chambers stop filling with blood. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and Long QT syndrome.Cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle).Heart tissue scarring (possibly from a heart attack).Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are the result of a problem with the heart’s electrical activity. Cardiac Arrest Caused by an Electrical Malfunction Treating a cardiac arrest depends on working out which system has failed, identifying AED shockable rhythms, and giving the most appropriate form of advanced cardiac life support. What Happens in a Cardiac ArrestĪ cardiac arrest takes place when any of the three systems of the heart (electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic) fails to function correctly. The chambers must continuously fill with fluid so that the fluid can be oxygenated and the carbon dioxide removed through the lungs. The hydraulic system of the heart is the fluid itself. The two upper chambers are called “atriums” and the two lower chambers are called “ventricles.” The Heart’s Hydraulic System The physical movement that pumps the blood around the body is the contracting of the heart muscle itself. If one pacemaker fails to fire, the next pacemaker takes over, and so on. This system is composed of a series of pacemakers that each fire at a different rate. The electrical system surrounding the heart provides the energy to make it beat. Like other hydraulic pumps (those that pump fluid), the heart contains three systems: It beats around 115,200 times every day, 42 million times in a year, and around 3.3 billion times over a lifespan of 79 years. The heart is a pump that maintains the circulation of blood around the body. But what is a shockable rhythm? And what happens when one of the AED shockable rhythms isn’t present? If you are a potential AED user or have an AED on-site, it’s important to know: An automated external defibrillator (AED) is designed to analyze the heart and, if a shockable rhythm is present, deliver a shock to a victim of cardiac arrest.
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