ACLS Megacode Scenario 2 | ACLS-Algorithms.com

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  1. amgeo15@yahoo.com says

    Jeff ,

    This site is fabulous. I have no words to express how great this site and how well you have explained everything in detail. Can you please consider making website for Certification like CCRN , CVRN etc.

  2. Dj Curry says

    Hello. With the new Bls and Acls guidelines, I cannot understand, why you would not start doing compressins with a HR of 25 ?…CAB ?????? She is 2 days P/O surgery…??? Hypovolemia….Bleed out as well, no b/p…We have been taught in the past airway, airway…Now it is Go to compressions even if pt has a very low pulse? Please reply ASAP. Thank you.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      “With the new Bls and Acls guidelines, I cannot understand, why you would not start doing compressins with a HR of 25 ?…CAB ?????? She is 2 days P/O surgery…??? Hypovolemia….Bleed out as well, no b/p…We have been taught in the past airway, airway…Now it is Go to compressions even if pt has a very low pulse? Please reply ASAP. Thank you.”

      Answer:
      The patient has a pulse, but his condition is unstable. H’s and T’s would point to hypoxia as the possible cause of the arrest. (The pt’s oxygen been off for an unknown amount of time). In hospital providers are supposed to tailor the interventions to the most likely cause of the arrest. You would secure the airway and use a BVM.

      The AHA ACLS Guidelines pg. 14 states: “Lone healthcare providers may tailor the sequence of rescue actions to the most likely cause of arrest.” Also in the Highlights of the AHA ACLS guidelines Summary pg. 2 it states: “Healthcare providers are again encouraged to tailor rescue actions to the most likely cause of arrest.” (AHA 2010 ACLS Highlights).

      If you were only a BLS provider it would be appropriate to begin chest compressions, but being an ACLS provider, you begin the ACLS protocol. For this situation the appropriate action would be to attempt to correct the hypoxic state. –Kind regards, Jeff

  3. Beth says

    Hi Jeff,
    I am curious about Megacode scenario 2 Q 17. The patient was finally stable- HR 60, BP 105/65, RR 5-8. What is the rationale for giving amiodarone when the patient is borderline bradycardic?
    Thank you 🙂

    • Jeff with admin. says

      The main reason would be that the patient converted after the use of amiodarone. It has been common practice to begin an infusion of the medication that help in the conversion of the rhythm out of VT/VF to a perfusing rhythm.
      Recently I have been discussing the use of amiodarone infusions in the post arrest phase with several colleagues. Due to the vague nature of a statement in the AHA ACLS provider manual, we have not been able to fully understand the AHA position. The statement from the AHA ACLS provider manual can be found on page 77 at the bottom of the page. It states: “There is no evidence to support continued prophylactic administration of antiarrhythmic medications once the patient achieves ROSC.” There is no other information in the book about the subject so we are left to deduce what this means.
      Some interpret this to mean: “if amiodarone was not used prior to ROSC then its prophylactic use as an infusion is not necessary, but it it was used to achieve ROSC then it may be used as an infusion.”
      Others interpret this to mean: “amiodarone infusion in the post arrest phase is not necessary at all in the post arrest phase.”
      In am becoming more inclined to believe that the latter is correct.
      At this time on the site, I have included it’s post-arrest use if it was used to bring about ROSC. I do not think that you will see such a detailed question during certification, but it would be nice if AHA clarified on this statement.
      I will adjust the site accordingly as I gain more information.
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  4. Nanette Dodedo says

    This has been a wonderful site for me even though I am not a member. My friend is a member and is RED HOT with her answers!!!! Best of luck to everybody, especially the forklift driver.

  5. anna says

    How many times you give shock before deciding to move on and start epinephrine?
    And when you give shock do you restart CPR right the way or if no change to rythm give medicine first ?

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Epinephrine occurs after the 2nd shock according to the AHA ACLS pulseless arrest algorithm.
      After a shock CPR is resumed and the medications are given during CPR. You do not check a rhythm after the shock. The rhythm is checked after the CPR.
      This is the sequence: shock-CPR-rhythm check-shock-CPR/epinephrine-rhythm check-shock-CPR/amiodarone-rhythm check-CPR…
      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  6. crolik says

    Hello Jeff,
    I would just like to thank you for this website. It made learning ACLS much more interesting than reading the book. I felt more confident and less nervous taking the exam. You and your staff should make more websites like this regarding other nursing exams..that would be awesome!
    Thanks again.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      After the first dose of epinephrine is given, it is on its own time and can be given every 3-5 minutes. In my experience, it is given every 3 minutes.
      An antiarrhythmic is given after the 3rd shock during CPR.
      You would have probably given 2-3 doses of epinephrine by this time.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

  7. Issa7481 says

    I have a few questions please
    1. Why is TCP contraindicated in a pt who is hypothermic
    2. After giving atropine 0.5mg, why is TCP the next step instead of giving Epi or Dop? is it because those two are infusions and that would require time and/or that we give that when the patient becomes slightly more stable?
    Thank you

    • Jeff with admin. says

      1. Bradycardia may be physiologic in the patient with hypothermia. Bradycardia is an appropriate response to a decreased metabolic rate associated with hypothermia. If the ventricle is hypothermic it is more prone to fibrillation with the irritation that can come with pacing. If the hypothermic ventricle begins to fibrillate, it is more resistant to defibrillation. (Excepts from AHA ACLS Resource Text, pg. 121)
      2. TCP causes an immediate stimulation to the heart is very safe and very effect. Also, it is the least invasive pacing technique available.

      Regards, Jeff

  8. mavalos says

    I aced the written test and did decent in the mega code, I faltered slightly on ROSC and H’s & T’s, but competency was shown & I only got 2 wrong on written and was the 1st to also finish the written test. My studying consisted of the ACLS pre-course test on the AHA site which I took 5 times to learn it, and this site. I am impressed with your site.
    Thank you very much.
    mike

    • Jeff with admin. says

      In a code, you would not have to wait 10 minutes between doses of amiodrone. You would probably give the second dose of amiodarone after at least one or two rounds of CPR to insure that the first dose of amiodarone was circulated adequately.
      In a code amiodarone is pushed rapid IV. You do not have to push over 2 minutes. The patient is dying. You must get the medications in and circulated as fast as possible.
      In non-emergency situations the 2 minute rule applies to amiodarone push.

      Kind regards,
      Jeff

      • mavalos says

        I thought so. I have to take that up with the instructor again. Maybe She mis-stated the 2 minute push. Thanks again Jeff!

        mike

  9. Chan Tha Soe says

    Hi,
    Question 4.
    According to ACLS provider manual Page 110 about Treatment Sequence : it is stated that Atropine may be repeated to a total dose of 3 mg. And that is clearly before ‘Transcutaneous pacing’. I answered ‘increase atropine to 1mg IVP’. But it turned out to be wrong.
    Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

    • Jeff with admin. says

      Due to the critical state of the patient and the most likely cause (hypoxia) of the bradycardia, it would be most appropriate to move onto transcutaneous pacing. Also on the bradycardia diagram, about atropine, it states “give every 3-5 minutes.” It would be most appropriate to move on to TCP and continue with improved ventilations and oxygenation.—Kind regards, Jeff

      • Chan Tha Soe says

        Thanks a lot Jeff. It does make sense.
        What if TCP is not readily available? Shall we continue with Atropine up to 3 mg or shall we go on with Eipnephrine or Dopamine infusion?

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