Resumo

ELGUEA ECHAVARRIA, Pedro Alejandro et al. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, approach of "H & T". Med. crít. (Col. Mex. Med. Crít.) [online]. 2017, vol.31, n.2, pp.93-100. ISSN 2448-8909.

There are different training programs that teach health professionals the skills needed to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation; one of the best known is the ACLS course, taught by the American Heart Association. One of the topics in this course is the handling of the causes that can trigger a cardiac arrest (particularly in non-shockable rhythms), and the importance of initiating simultaneous management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The aim of this article is to review thoroughly when to suspect, how to diagnose and how to treat each of the causes of asystole and pulseless electrical activity. We will tackle the analysis that has to be performed before, during and after cardiac arrest. In addition, we will review the usefulness of emergency ultrasound or echocardiography in this emergency scenario.

Palavras-chave : Cardiac arrest; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; ecocardiography; ultrasound; ACLS; pulseless electrical activity.