Definition If there is no circulation of blood in the vessels of the affected person due to a missing (or non-productive) heart action, this is called a (cardiac) arrest. Introduction In emergency medicine, cardiac arrest represents an acutely life-threatening condition. The partially congruent use of the term “clinical death” is misleading in that a cardiac … Cardiac arrest
Diagnosis Cardiovascular arrest triggers a series of distinctive physical changes. Logically, when the heart is not pumping, no more pulses can be felt. This happens especially in large arteries such as the carotid artery (Arteria carotis) and the femoral artery (Arteria femoralis) in the groin. A few seconds later unconsciousness usually occurs, followed by gasping … Diagnosis | Cardiac arrest
Prognosis The most important prognostic factor is how quickly after the onset of cardiac arrest resuscitation measures are started, which is often the responsibility of medical laypersons who happen to be present at the situation or find the patient unconscious and pulseless, and should then intervene boldly, but in practice this is often omitted for … Prognosis | Cardiac arrest
What’s asystole? The term asystole is a medical term. It describes the complete absence of electrical and mechanical action of the heart, i.e. the heart stops. Asystole is fatal within minutes if left untreated and requires immediate medical intervention. An asystole can be detected in the ECG. Clinically it is indicated by a missing pulse. … Asystole
Who needs a defibrillator? During resuscitation, only patients with ventricular fibrillation need defibrillation. Patients with asystole do not benefit from defibrillation. After a surviving cardiac arrest it is an important question whether a defibrillator should be implanted. This is important because the probability of suffering another cardiac arrest is significantly increased in patients who have … Who needs a defibrillator? | Asystole
