ACLS H's and T's Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What do H's and T's refer to in the context of cardiac arrest?

Types of medications

Symptoms

Reversible causes of cardiac arrest (correct)

Patient demographics

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?

Decreased tissue perfusion, poor intake, losses (vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, burns), sepsis, blood loss Signup and view all the answers

What can cause hypoxia?

Respiratory failure, airway obstruction Signup and view all the answers

The accumulation of CO2 is associated with ______.

Acidosis Signup and view all the answers

Hypokalemia is defined as K+ levels greater than 5.5.

False Signup and view all the answers

Hyperkalemia can result from conditions such as renal failure and trauma.

True Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes hypoglycemia?

Low blood glucose level Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tension pneumothorax' refer to?

A type of pneumothorax in which air enters the chest cavity but cannot escape, placing pressure on the heart and vessels. Signup and view all the answers

What are the symptoms of a coronary thrombus?

Substernal chest pain, ST changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Apgar scale?

To measure the health of newborns based on various indications. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following appearance scores with their descriptions:

Pink = 2 Body pink peripheral cyanosis = 1 Completely blue = 0 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following pulse scores with their descriptions:

<blockquote> 100 = 2 < 100 = 1 0 = 0 </blockquote> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following grimace scores with their descriptions:

Good cry = 2 Grimace = 1 No response = 0 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following activity scores with their descriptions:

Active motion = 2 Flexion of extremities = 1 Limp = 0 Signup and view all the answers

Match the following respiration scores with their descriptions:

Good cry = 2 Slow irregular = 1 Absent = 0 Signup and view all the answers

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

Hypovolemia: Decreased circulating blood volume leading to decreased tissue perfusion; caused by poor intake, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, burns, sepsis, or blood loss.
Hypoxia: Resulting from respiratory failure or airway obstruction; critical to maintain oxygen supply.
Hydrogen Ion: Indicating acidosis due to respiratory failure or conditions like metabolic acidosis (e.g., sepsis, DKA); treatment involves bicarbonate to correct acidosis.
Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels (K+ < 3.5) can lead to flat or inverted T waves; often caused by vomiting, diarrhea, and diuretics.
Hyperkalemia: Elevated potassium levels (K+ > 5.5) can cause peaked T waves and wide QRS complexes; linked to renal failure, DKA, trauma, and burns.
Hypoglycemia: Critically low blood glucose levels; requires swift management to prevent further complications.
Hypothermia: Characterized by abnormally low body temperature; involves passive or active rewarming strategies.

T's

Toxins: Includes substances like calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, digoxin, tricyclic antidepressants, and cocaine; necessitates identification and antidote administration for treatment.
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).
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.
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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Description

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.