This document discusses Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). It begins by defining ACLS as a set of interventions for urgently treating cardiac arrest, stroke, and other emergencies, as well as the skills and knowledge to perform those interventions. The ACLS guidelines were first published in 1974 by the American Heart Association and are updated every five years. Basic life support forms the core foundation of ACLS, including chest compressions and use of automated external defibrillators. Only qualified healthcare providers can provide ACLS, as it requires skills like airway management, IV access, ECG interpretation, and emergency pharmacology. The document then outlines the ABCs of ACLS and protocols for ventilation, circulation, shockable and

1. ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE
SUPPORT(ACLS) –
Dr. Sushma Saroa
Dr. S K Bansal
Dr. Vani Bhageria
Cantonment General Hospital

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

8.  Airway
 Breathing
 Circulation
 Differential diagnosis

9. Head tilt
Chin lift
Jaw thurst
AIRWAY

10.  Initially provide rescue breaths using an
ambu bag and a mask at full flow of oxygen
 Continuously assess airway patency while
giving breaths .
 If ventilation is not adequate consider an
advanced airway device.(ETT, LMA, laryngeal
tube )

11. Clinical Method
 Look for vapor
condensation .
 Look for equal
bilateral chest rise
 Confirm equal
bilateral breath
sounds with
auscultation
Confirmation devices
 Wave form
capnography (gold
standard)
 Exhaled CO2
detectors
 Esophageal detector
devices

12.  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.

13. Shockable Rthyms VT/ VF
Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Fibrillation

14. Unshockable Rthyms Asystole / PEA
Asystole
Pulseless Electrical Activity

15. Differential Diagnosis
THE H’S
H’s
T’SAND
T’s
 Hypoxia
 Hypovolemia
 Hydrogen ion(acidosis)
 Hypo-/hyperkalemia
 Hypothermia
Toxins
Tamponade (cardiac)
Tension pneumothorax
Thrombosis, pulmonary
Thrombosis, coronary

17. ACTION IN TIME CAN SAVE A LIFE!!!
THANK YOU