Hs & Ts - Tamponade

01/03/22 • 3 min

Cardiac tamponade is one of the reversible causes of cardiac arrest that we should consider when working a code. Cardiac tamponade or pericardial tamponade is caused by an accumulation of blood or other fluid in the sac around the heart. The sac cannot expand so pressure is exerted on the heart, limiting its ability to pump effectively. A history of recent chest trauma, cardiac procedures, and diseases could lead us to suspect tamponade. Pre-arrest signs of tamponade include tachycardia, JVD, muffle heart sounds, and narrowing blood pressure. Pericardiocentesis is the intervention performed to relieve a cardiac tamponade and involves inserting a needle through the chest wall and into the pericardial space. This procedure should only be performed by trained healthcare professionals functioning within their scope of practice. Check out the Pass ACLS Twitter feed on 12/29/2021 for an autopsy video showing a cardiac tamponade. Link: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (https://twitter.com/PassACLS) Connect with me: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (@PassACLS) on Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-acls-podcast/ (@Pass-ACLS-Podcast) on LinkedIn

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Reference Cards & Teamwork

The ACLS quick reference cards can be used during your class while running the mega code and should be placed on your crash cart or AED in the clinical setting. Team leaders should use their team members for advice if they get confused or at a loss for the next action. Team leaders should ask their team members to suggest possible reversible cause Hs & Ts. Team members should use closed loop communication to ensure clarity of orders and speak up to ask for clarification when an order seems incorrect. The team leader should assign a team member to act as CPR coach whose role is to ensure high quality, uninterrupted CPR is being done. Connect with me: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (@PassACLS) on Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-acls-podcast/ (@Pass-ACLS-Podcast) on LinkedIn

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Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) Review

The nasopharyngeal airway or NPA is an alternative to an oropharyngeal airway that can be used in patients with an intact gag reflex. The NPA comes in different sizes and must be measured to reduce the liklihood of complications caused from inserting a NPA too short or too long for the patient. The NPA should be used with caution in patients with a suspected skull fracture. O2 administration, ETCO2 monitoring, BVM ventilation, and suctioning can all be done with a NPA in place. Connect with me: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (@PassACLS) on Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-acls-podcast/ (@Pass-ACLS_Podcast) on LinkedIn