Questions and Answers
What do H's and T's refer to in the context of cardiac arrest?
List the H's.
Hypovolemia, Hypoxia, Hydrogen Ion, Hypokalemia, Hyperkalemia, Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia
List the T's.
Toxins, Tamponade, Tension pneumothorax, Thrombosis, Trauma
What causes hypovolemia?
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What can cause hypoxia?
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The accumulation of CO2 is associated with ______.
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Hypokalemia is defined as K+ levels greater than 5.5.
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Hyperkalemia can result from conditions such as renal failure and trauma.
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What characterizes hypoglycemia?
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What does 'tension pneumothorax' refer to?
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What are the symptoms of a coronary thrombus?
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What is the purpose of the Apgar scale?
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Match the following appearance scores with their descriptions:
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Match the following pulse scores with their descriptions:
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Match the following grimace scores with their descriptions:
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Match the following activity scores with their descriptions:
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Match the following respiration scores with their descriptions:
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Study Notes
H's and T's Overview
- Definition: Key reversible causes of cardiac arrest, essential for emergency response.
- Total Causes: 11 main reversible causes.
H's
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Hypovolemia: Decreased circulating blood volume leading to decreased tissue perfusion; caused by poor intake, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, burns, sepsis, or blood loss.
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Hypoxia: Resulting from respiratory failure or airway obstruction; critical to maintain oxygen supply.
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Hydrogen Ion: Indicating acidosis due to respiratory failure or conditions like metabolic acidosis (e.g., sepsis, DKA); treatment involves bicarbonate to correct acidosis.
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Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels (K+ < 3.5) can lead to flat or inverted T waves; often caused by vomiting, diarrhea, and diuretics.
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Hyperkalemia: Elevated potassium levels (K+ > 5.5) can cause peaked T waves and wide QRS complexes; linked to renal failure, DKA, trauma, and burns.
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Hypoglycemia: Critically low blood glucose levels; requires swift management to prevent further complications.
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Hypothermia: Characterized by abnormally low body temperature; involves passive or active rewarming strategies.
T's
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Toxins: Includes substances like calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, digoxin, tricyclic antidepressants, and cocaine; necessitates identification and antidote administration for treatment.
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Tamponade: Refers to cardiac tamponade potentially arising from post-cardiac catheterization, aortic dissections, or trauma; recognized by Beck's triad, muffled heart tones, and jugular venous distension (JVD).
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Tension Pneumothorax: A life-threatening condition where air accumulates in the chest cavity, putting pressure on the heart and vessels; symptoms include JVD, difficulty ventilating, uneven breath sounds, and tracheal deviation.
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Thrombus: Can be coronary (causing myocardial infarction) or pulmonary (causing pulmonary embolism); symptoms may include chest pain with ST changes or shortness of breath, hypoxia, and tachycardia.
Trauma
- No specific details provided; generally understood as any physical injury impacting a patient’s health status.
Apgar Scale
- Used for assessing health in newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth based on five criteria: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.
Appearance Scoring
- Pink: 2 points
- Body pink, peripheral cyanosis: 1 point
- Completely blue: 0 points
Pulse Scoring
- > 100 beats/min: 2 points
- < 100 beats/min: 1 point
- Absent: 0 points
Grimace Scoring
- Assesses irritability by response:
- Good cry: 2 points
- Grimace: 1 point
- No response: 0 points
Activity Scoring
- Active motion: 2 points
- Flexion of extremities: 1 point
- Limp: 0 points
Respiration Scoring
- Good cry: 2 points
- Slow, irregular: 1 point
- Absent: 0 points
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Test your knowledge on the reversible causes of cardiac arrest with these flashcards. Explore the key terms and definitions related to H's and T's essential for Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Perfect for healthcare professionals preparing for ACLS certification or review.