Cardiac Arrest: Difference between revisions

A obstruction of the airway is uncommon, but reversible and adequate recognition can prevent cardiac arrest. Airway obstruction is usually related with eating. In a mild obstruction patients can cough and speak and only frequent reassessment is advised. Patients that have a severe obstruction are unable to speak and have problems breathing and coughing. If a patients is still conscious five back blows can be applied between the shoulder blades whilst the patient leans forward. Otherwise five abdominal thrust can be applied by clenching a fist and grasping it with the other hand. Placing it between the rib-cage and the umbilicus and pull sharply inward and upward whilst standing behind the patients. If the patient lose consciousness start BLS.

In general the BLS algorithm is similar in the same in children as in adults. However due to the different underlying pathology of cardiac arrest and the size of children, small differences can be incorporated. Firstly, as pulmonary causes for cardiac arrest are more frequent, the BLS can be started with 5 initial rescue breaths before starting with the chest compression. The chest compression should compress the chest at least one third of the depth. The chest compression can be performed with one or two hands for a child over 1 year, but with 2 finger for an infant under 1 year.