ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE

SUPPORT(ACLS) –

Dr. Sushma Saroa

Dr. S K Bansal
Dr. Vani Bhageria
Cantonment General Hospital
Advanced cardiac life support or advanced
cardiovascular life support (ACLS) refers
to a set of clinical interventions for the
urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke
and other life-threatening medical
emergencies, as well as the knowledge
and skills to deploy those interventions.
The ACLS guidelines were first published in
1974 by the American Heart Association
and were updated in every five years and
publishes as set of recommendations and
educational materials.
IMPORTANCE OF BLS IN ACLS

•BLS Basic life support makes up the core

foundation of ACLS

•Bystandard chest compression .

•The widespread availability of AED

•Early Defibrillation
Only qualified health care providers can
provide ACLS, as it requires the ability
 To manage the person's airway,
 To initiate IV access,
 To read and interpret ECG
 To understand emergency pharmacology
 Airway
 Breathing
 Circulation
 Differential diagnosis
 AIRWAY

Head tilt
Chin lift
Jaw thurst
 Initially
provide rescue breaths using an
ambu bag and a mask at full flow of oxygen

 Continuously assess airway patency while

giving breaths .

 Ifventilation is not adequate consider an

advanced airway device.(ETT, LMA, laryngeal
tube )
Clinical Method Confirmation devices
 Look for vapor  Wave form
condensation . capnography (gold
 Look for equal standard)
bilateral chest rise  Exhaled CO2
 Confirm equal detectors
bilateral breath  Esophageal detector
sounds with devices
auscultation
 Obtain IV/IO access
 Monitor ECG , BP, pulse oximeter ,EtCO2 monitor
 Obtain a 12 lead ECG if possible,Identify the
heart rthym. and shock if rthym is shockable
VF/VT
 Give epinephrine IV/IO every 3-5 minutes with
20 ml of saline push.
 Give amiodarone 300 mg for refactory (VF/VT)
 If rthym is unshockable continue with CPR for 2
minutes and give Epinephrine every 3- 5 minutes
treat reversible causes.
Shockable Rthyms VT/ VF

Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular Fibrillation
Unshockable Rthyms Asystole / PEA

Asystole

Pulseless Electrical Activity

Differential Diagnosis
THE H’S AND T’S
H’s T’s

 Hypoxia Toxins
 Hypovolemia Tamponade (cardiac)
 Hydrogen ion(acidosis) Tension pneumothorax
 Hypo-/hyperkalemia Thrombosis, pulmonary
 Hypothermia Thrombosis, coronary
 ACTION IN TIME CAN SAVE A LIFE!!!

THANK YOU