Epinephrine and Dopamine are adrenergic agonist used in several ACLS algorithms.

The use of epinephrine for severe anaphylaxis and unstable bradycardia.

Review epinephrine’s effects on blood vessels and bronchioles.

Why epinephrine is helpful for patients with anaphylaxis.

Using an epi drip for unstable bradycardia.

Epinephrine administration during cardiac arrest.

Starting and epinephrine or Dopamine drip for patients that have ROSC.

Review the effects of Dopamine based on mcg/kg/min dosing.

Monitoring the patient and titrating epi or Dopamine drips to prevent harm.

For more information on ACLS medications, check out the pod resource page at passacls.com.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Providing rescue breathing to apneic patients with a palpable pulse.

Normal end tidal CO2 for patients with a pulse.

Identification of cardiac arrest and our immediate actions.

Providing artificial ventilations during CPR without an advanced airway vs with an advanced airway in place.

Using quantitative waveform capnography to confirm placement of an advanced airway, assess the quality of CPR, and identify ROSC.

The effects of hyperventilating patients in cardiac arrest.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Hypothermic patients aren't dead until they are warm and dead.

When a patient’s core body temperature drops below 96.8 F (36 C), they are hypothermic.  As the body’s temperature drops below 36 C, hypothermia may further be classified as moderate or severe:

• Moderate if the patient’s body core temp is between 30-34 C; and
• Severe if it's below 30 C.

Modifying the ACLS Adult Cardiac Arrest algorithm for patients with severe hypothermia.

Following the ACLS algorithm for patients with a body core temperature above 30 C.

Methods for rewarming patients with moderate vs severe hypothermia.

Continuation of CPR and ACLS efforts until the patient’s body core temp is above 36 C.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Calcium is one of the ions that move across the cellular membrane during cardiac contraction and relaxation.

The primary use of calcium channel blockers in ACLS is for the treatment of stable, narrow complex tachycardias refractory to Adenosine and to lower the blood pressure of ischemic stroke patients with severe hypertension.

Use of calcium channel blockers for SVT refractory to Adenosine and A-Fib or A-Flutter with RVR.

Contraindications of calcium channel blockers.

Nicardipine use during the treatment of ischemic strokes.

For more information on ACLS medications, tachycardia, or stroke check out the pod resource page at passacls.com.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Safe Meds VIP - Learn about medication safety and download a free drug discount card to save money on prescription medications for you and your pets: https://safemeds.vip

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The goal of CPR is to keep the brain and vital organs perfused until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved.

Post-arrest care and recovery are the final two links in the chain of survival.

Identification of ROSC during CPR.

Initial patient management goals after identifying ROSC.

The patient’s GCS/LOC should be evaluated to determine if targeted temperature management (TTM) is indicated.

Patients that cannot obey simple commands should receive TTM for at least 24 hours.

Monitoring the patient’s core temperature during TTM.

Why we should cool unresponsive post-arrest patients.

Patients can undergo EEG, CT, MRI, & PCI while receiving TTM.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Nitroglycerine is vasodilator that affects peripheral blood vessels and coronary arteries.

Because of its widespread dilation effects on blood vessels, nitro can quickly lower a patient’s blood pressure, sometimes to the point of making a patient hypotensive.

Assessment of vital signs prior to administering nitro is necessary to ensure patient safety.

Indications for use of nitroglycerine.

Nitroglycerine's contraindications & considerations for use.

Effects of nitro on patients taking PDE inhibitors.

Administration of nitroglycerine to patients with ischemic chest pain.

Considerations for patients that took their home nitroglycerine.

Monitoring patient's pain and vital signs after nitro administration.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

Buy Me a Coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/paultaylor

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In atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) and atrial flutter (A-Flutter) the electrical impulse for cardiac contraction is in the atria but isn't the normal pacemaker of the heart, the SA node.

The ECG characteristics of A-Fib and A-Flutter.

Recognition and treatment of unstable patients in A-Fib/Flutter with rapid ventricular response (RVR).

Suggested energy settings for synchronized cardioversion of unstable patients with a narrow complex tachycardia.

Team safety when cardioverting an unstable patient in A-FIB/Flutter.

Adenosine’s role for stable SVT patients with underlying atrial rhythms.

Treatment of stable patients in A-Fib/Flutter with RVR.

For other medical podcasts that cover narrow complex tachycardias, visit the pod resource page at passacls.com.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

Buy Me a Coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/paultaylor

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As an ACLS provider you do not need to be familiar with all of the different signs of various types of poisoning.  You should be able to obtain a history and know to order toxicology.

The majority of toxins don’t have a specific antidote.  There are a few toxins for which we have emergency interventions and ACLS providers should be familiar with.

Reviewing the patient's medical history for indicators that may lead us to suspect a tablet/toxin cause of cardiac arrest.

Administration of Narcan for suspected narcotics overdose following the Opioid Associated Emergency algorithm.

Other common ACLS Tablet Toxin scenarios with possible treatments.

Medications commonly used to treat specific toxins that are regularly stocked on crash carts or carried in EMS med bags.

ACLS providers that suspect a specific toxin should consult with their Pharmacy or call Poison Control for treatment directions.

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Updated guidance for resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and refractory shock due to poisoning: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001161

Poison Myths and Misconceptions on The Pharmacists Voice podcast: https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast/poison-myths-and-misconceptions-discussion-part-1-of-5-with-angel-bivens-rph-and-wendy-stephan-phd/

The ACLS algorithms are designed to make it easier to remember the key interventions we should deliver, and the order in which they should be delivered, to provide the best evidence-based care possible.

Generally speaking, if there’s a change in a patient’s condition, we should ensure we’re using the correct algorithm.

Three key points to remember when using ACLS algorithms:

1.  If a patient’s condition changes, we should do an assessment and use the algorithm that matches the patient’s current state.

2.  If an action was already done, we don’t need to repeat it.

3.  We only do actions that are clinically appropriate and within our scope of practice.

Walk through of an example mega code scenario with explanations of when and why we change to a different ACLS algorithm. 

Good luck with your ACLS class!

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Beta blocking medications attach to Beta receptors to inhibit or “block” the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline)and norepinephrine in the body.

The primary locations of Beta I, II, and III receptors.

Effects of epinephrine & norepinephrine’s stimulation of beta receptors on the heart.

Beta blockers effects on the heart.

When we should consider the use of beta blockers in the Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)and Tachycardia algorithms.

Contraindications to the use of beta blocker medications.

More detailed information about beta blocker’s mechanism of action and specific instances for their use can be found on the Pod Resource page at PassACLS.com.

Connect with me:

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Good luck with your ACLS class!