Cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of heartbeat and cardiac function resulting in loss of effective circulation. It can be caused by issues with the heart itself like congenital defects or diseases, or other factors like heart attack. Risk factors include family history, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Symptoms include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, and no pulse or breathing. Treatment involves immediate CPR, defibrillation if needed, and supportive care to restore normal heart function while identifying the underlying cause. Preventive measures include a healthy lifestyle with exercise, diet, managing stress, and not smoking.

1. Adarsh S A
3rd year B.Sc. Nursing
Assisi College of Nursing

2. DEFINITION
Cardiac arrest can be defined as the sudden cessation of heartbeat and cardiac
function, resulting in the loss of effective circulation.

3. ETIOLOGY
• Influx problems in heart
• Congenital heart disease
• Valvular heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Electrical abnormalities

4. RISK FACTORS
• Family history of coronary artery disease
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Previous episode of cardiac arrest
• Age
• Nutritional imbalance
• Chronic kidney disease

5. SYMPTOMS OF CARDIAC ARREST
Sudden cardiac arrest signs and symptoms are immediate and drastic and include;
• Sudden collapse
• No pulse
• No breathing
• Loss of consciousness
Sometimes other signs and symptoms occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might
include;
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• palpitations

6. POST CARDIAC ARREST SYNDROME
Post cardiac arrest syndrome is a combination of pathophysiological processes which
include;
• Post cardiac arrest brain injury
• Post cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction
• Systemic ischemia/ reperfusion response
• Persistent precipitating pathology

11. DIAGNOSIS OF CARDIAC ARREST
• Cardiac arrest is synonymous with clinical death.
• Lack of carotid pulse is the gold standard for diagnosing cardiac arrest.
• Cardiac arrest is usually diagnosed clinically by the absence of a pulse, but lack of
pulse may be a result of other conditions (e.g. shock).
• Chest X-ray
• Echocardiogram
• CT scan
• MRI scan
• ECG
• Coronary angiogram

12. MANAGEMENT
The management of cardiac arrest includes procedures and supportive care. This is a
medical emergency and needs immediate CPR or use of a defibrillator. The treatment
includes;
• Supportive care
• Medications
• Devices

13. SUPPORTIVE CARE
The supportive care consist of;
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Defibrillation
• Tracheal intubation
• Targeted temperature management

14. CARDIOPULMONARY
RESUSCITATION (CPR)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a technique of basic life support for the purpose of
oxygenation to the heart, lungs and brain until and unless the appropriate medical
treatment can come and restore the normal cardiopulmonary function.
INDICATION
• Road traffic accident
• Drowning
• Electric shock
• Airway obstruction
• Cardiac arrest

15. CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

16. EARLY RECOGNITION
Assessment is of crucial importance. It includes;
• Unresponsiveness
• No breathing or no normal breathing
• No pulse within 10 seconds

17. CPR SEQUENCE
CPR involves;
• Compressions
• Airway
• Breathing

18. Chest compressions:
• Patient must be placed on a hard surface
• The palm of one hand is placed in the lower half of the sternum
• The other hand is placed over the hand on the sternum
• Shoulders should be positioned directly over the hands with elbows locked straight.
Use upper body weight to compress.
• Sternum must be depressed at least 5 cm in adults, and 2-4 cm in children, 1-2 cm
in infants.
• It must be performed at a rate of 100-120/ min
• The ratio of chest compressions and rescue breaths must be 30:2

19. Airway:
1. Head tilt, chin lift
2. Jaw thrust
3. Finger sweep
4. Heimlich maneuver

20. HEAD TILT CHIN LIFT
JAW THRUST

21. FINGER SWEEP
HEIMLICH MANEUVER

22. Breathing:
1. Mouth to mouth breathing
2. Mouth to nose breathing
3. Mouth to mouth and nose

23. DEFIBRILLATION
Defibrillator is a device that deliver a dose of electrical energy to the affected heart to
force the heart to produce more normal cardiac rhythm.
Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

24. IMPLANTABLE DEVICES
• An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery-powered device
placed in your chest to monitor your heart rhythm and detect irregular heart beats.
• An ICD can deliver electric shocks via one or more wires connected to your heart to
fix an abnormal heart rhythm.
• ICD constantly monitors for abnormal heart rhythms and instantly tries to correct
them, it helps when the heart stops beating in case of cardiac arrest.

25. PREVENTION
The cardiac arrest can be prevented by;
• Eating a healthy diet. Avoid foods that are oily, high in cholesterol, sugary and high
in carbohydrates.
• Doing regular exercise reduces risk of cardiac diseases.
• Maintain healthy body weight.
• Reduce stress level by meditation and other relaxation activities.
• Avoid the use of tobacco and alcohol.
• Avoid unnecessary use of over the counter drugs.
• The people at risk of heart diseases has to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol
levels and regular medical check-ups.