Cardiac Arrest occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted causing some heart cells to die.
Nursing care:
1. Obtain a full description of the patients pain and assess location, duration, sensation, exacerbation and radiation.
* Pain is a subjective experience and must be described by the patient
2. Administer supplemental Oxygen by nasal prongs or face mask as indicated.
* This increases the amount of oxygen available for the MI uptake and thereb relieves discomfort associated with tissue ischaemia
3. Administer medications:
A. Anti- anginals eg. Nitroglycerin ( Isosobide dinitrate) "Isodril".
* Nitrates are useful for pain control by coronary vasodialating effects which increase coronary blood flow and myocardial perfusion
B.Betablockers eg :
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Metoprolol ( Lopressor)
These are important secondline agents for pain control through effect of blocking sympathetic stimulayion, thereby decreasing heart rate, systolic B.P. and Myocardial O2 demand.
C. Analgesics e.g. - Morphine (Meperidine) " Demerol".
Although IV Morphine is the usual drug choice, other injectable narcotics may be used in acute phase orrecurrent chest pain unrelieved by nitroglycerine to decrease severe pain, provide sedation and decrease myocardial workload.
Evaluate all interventions
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The chances of survival for a person who has experienced a cardiac arrest in increased by early CPR and early defibrillation. During cardiac arrest, the heart is not pumping and the organs are not receiving oxygen. High quality CPR can provide the organs with oxygen until the heart can be defibrillated or restarted with drugs. Every minute that the organs, especially the brain, are deprived of oxygen decreases the chance of survival.
The Cardiac Chain of Survival is a series of critical actions that, when performed in sequence, can significantly improve the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest. The key links include early recognition and activation of emergency medical services, early CPR to maintain blood flow, early defibrillation to restore a normal heart rhythm, and post-cardiac arrest care to stabilize the patient. Each link is essential and enhances the overall effectiveness of resuscitation efforts.
Cardiac arrest should be recognized and treated immediately, ideally within seconds. The chances of survival decrease by about 10% for every minute that passes without intervention, such as CPR or defibrillation. Therefore, it's crucial to initiate emergency response and begin CPR within 1 to 2 minutes after recognizing cardiac arrest to maximize the likelihood of survival.
The chances are unlikely (but not impossible). The older you are, the higher the chances. PS. Cardiac arrest is not the same as heart attack (however, what I said above applies to both).
Defibrillation is crucial in the cardiac chain of survival because it delivers an electric shock to the heart, allowing it to re-establish a normal rhythm during life-threatening arrhythmias, like ventricular fibrillation. Rapid defibrillation increases the chances of survival significantly, as every minute without it decreases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. This timely intervention, combined with CPR, can restore effective circulation and improve overall survival rates in cardiac arrest situations.
The Cardiac Chain of Survival consists of five critical links that enhance the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest. These links are: early recognition and activation of emergency response, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an emphasis on chest compressions, early defibrillation, effective advanced life support, and integrated post-cardiac arrest care. Each link is vital in improving outcomes for individuals experiencing a cardiac event, emphasizing the importance of immediate action and timely medical intervention.
To scream and panic.
An AED is a device which uses an electrical shock to restart a heart that has failed during cardiac arrest. This device can be crucial, because when the heart stops beating during cardiac arrest, their blood also stops pumping, which can deprive the brain of oxygen and lead to serious brain damage should they survive. The faster the heart is restarted, the higher the chances of survival.
A common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management is delaying or failing to initiate CPR promptly. Immediate bystander CPR can significantly increase the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Delaying CPR can lead to irreversible damage to the brain and other vital organs due to lack of oxygen.
In the United States, around 350,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. It is important for people to be trained in CPR and for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be readily available in public places to improve survival rates.
protecting children from injury and cardiac arrest
Yes, CPR started within 4 - 6 minutes after a heart attack when no signs of life are present will give the person a good chance of survival. As time goes beyond 6 minutes, chances of survival decrease about 10% per minute.