Advanced cardiac life support: Difference between revisions

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Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is a detailed medical protocol for the provision of lifesaving cardiac care in settings ranging from the pre-hospital environment to the hospital setting.

ACLS is the appropriate medical response to cardiac arrest and is continued until the person is revived or is declared dead by a competent medical authority. The standards for ACLS in the United States are administered by the American Heart Association.

ACLS consists of the provision of advanced cardiac drugs, defibrillation and intubation. For witnessed or monitored arrests, ACLS also includes a single precordial thump.

Paramedics, doctors, or specially trained nurses may provide ACLS before arrival in hospital, in the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital. Doctors trained in emergency medicine or a cardiology can provide additional cardiac drugs and possiblesurgical intervention including internal cardiac massage and drainage of pneumothoraces and cardiac tamponade.

CPR provided by laypersons buys time for higher medical responders such as paramedics to arrive and begin providing ACLS. For this reason it is essential that any person starting CPR also activate the emergency medical services by calling for help using the emergency telephone number.

Semi-automatic defibrillation, oxygen, and airway support may be provided by emergency medical technicians. This is considered basic life support or BLS. [Cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR) is one of the skills provided as part of BLS.

External links

American Heart Association
UK Resuscitation Council
European Resuscitation Council includes the European 2000 guidelines

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 [[Paramedic]]s, [[medical doctor|doctors]], or specially trained [[nurse]]s may provide ACLS before arrival in hospital, in the [[emergency room]], or elsewhere in a hospital.  Doctors trained in [[emergency medicine]] or a [[cardiology]] can provide additional cardiac drugs and possible[[surgery|surgical]] intervention including [[internal cardiac massage]] and drainage of [[pneumothorax|pneumothoraces]] and [[cardiac tamponade]].
-[[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR) is part of [[basic life support]].  CPR provided by laypersons buys time for higher medical responders such as [[paramedic]]s to arrive and begin providing ACLS.  For this reason it is essential that any person starting CPR also activate the [[emergency medical services]] by [[call for help|calling for help]] using the [[emergency telephone number]].
+CPR provided by laypersons buys time for higher medical responders such as [[paramedic]]s to arrive and begin providing ACLS.  For this reason it is essential that any person starting CPR also activate the [[emergency medical services]] by [[call for help|calling for help]] using the [[emergency telephone number]].
-Semi-automatic [[defibrillation]], oxygen, and airway support may be provided by [[emergency medical technicians]].  This is also considered basic life support.
+Semi-automatic [[defibrillation]], oxygen, and airway support may be provided by [[emergency medical technicians]].  This is considered [[basic life support]] or BLS.  [Cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR) is one of the skills provided as part of BLS.
+See also [[basic life support]]
 == External links ==