The 2021 ACLS guidelines have been in effect since October 2020 when the American Heart Association released the most recent guidelines changes for BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Furthermore, these guidelines will be good through 2025 when the AHA meets again to update the guidelines.

There were some minor changes to the ACLS Guidelines. The details of guideline changes that occurred with the release of the 2020 ACLS & BLS Guidelines can be reviewed using the links below.

The articles will provide a complete review of the ACLS guideline changes released by the American Heart Association.

Please feel free to ask a question in the comments section below if something is not clear.

2021-2025 ACLS Guideline Changes Review

1. Adult Cardiac Arrest Algorithm (read full review)

   The adult cardiac arrest algorithm had several minor changes included changes in medication administration, assessing the appropriateness of continued resuscitation, and waveform capnography recommendations.

2. Bradycardia Algorithm (read full review)

   There were two significant changes to medications administered within the bradycardia algorithm.

3. Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Algorithm (read full review)

   There were minor changes to the post-cardiac arrest care algorithm regarding details for airway management, respiratory parameters, cardiac intervention, and critical care management.

4. Tachycardia (with a pulse) Algorithm (read full review)

   A new block was added to the algorithm in order to address cases where tachycardia is refractory to interventions. There were also a couple of other minor adjustments of interventions within the algorithm.

5. Other 2020-2025 Guideline Changes (read full review)

   Several other important changes were made within the AHA ACLS guidelines. These changes include a revision to the chain of survival for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital arrest