ACLS Terms

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ACLS TERMS

Cardiac arrest is also known as cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest. This is a sudden stop in blood circulation resulting from the heart failing to contract effectively. Healthcare professionals sometimes referred to an unexpected cardiac arrest as a sudden cardiac arrest.

Arrested or stopped blood circulation means that oxygen and glucose are unable to be delivered to the body. When the brain Is not able to get oxygen and glucose, this results in a loss of consciousness which causes abnormal or absent breathing.

If cardiac arrest goes untreated for longer than five minutes, brain injury Is likely to happen. Immediate treatment of cardiac arrest Is critical for the best chance of survival and neurological recovery.

Cardiac arrest is considered a medical emergency. In some situations, if it's treated early, it can be reversible. Unexpected cardiac arrest or cardiac death can result in death within just a few minutes. The treatment for cardiac arrest is immediate defibrillation.

Stroke -- This is also known as a cerebrovascular accident or cerebrovascular insult or brain attack. A stroke is when there's poor blood flow to the brain and as a result of this, cells begin to die.

There are two primary kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke results from a lack of blood flow. Hemorrhagic stroke results from bleeding. Both kinds of strokes result In a section of the brain being unable to function properly.

Electrocardiogram -- This is a reading where the electrical activity of the heart is recorded. An electrocardiograph is required for this sort of report. Electrodes are placed on the patient's body which detect small electrical changes on the skin that occur when the heart muscle polarizes during heartbeats.

Chain of survival -- This refers to the measures taken or the series of actions that can save the life of a person who is in cardiac arrest. Critical components in the chain of survival are early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced cardiac life support.

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)  -- This is an emergency procedure that is performed manually to try to preserve brain function until more advanced treatment measures are available.
CPR is intended to restore blood circulation and breathing for a person who is in cardiac arrest.

Defibrillation -- This is a common treatment for people who are in cardiac arrest. Defibrillation requires a machine that delivers electrical current to the patient's heart. The electrical current depolarizes the heart muscle and restores normal rhythm.