Your role and responsibility during an emergency in the cath lab. Communication is extremely important. This power point discusses how to do that. Effective teamwork and communication increases the success of resuscitation.

1. Intra-Procedure Emergencies
Your Role In Cardiac Cath Lab
Presented by Jacob D. Mason, EMT, RCIS

2. Promote patient safety and improve patient outcomes.

3. Effective teamwork and communication
increases the success of resuscitation.

4. Elements of effective resuscitation
team dynamics
• Closed-Loop Communications
• Clear Messages
• Clear roles and responsibilities

5. Closed loop communication:
Is a communication technique used to avoid misunderstandings.
When the sender gives a message, the receiver repeats this back.
For example: Now that the IV is in, give 1mg of epinephrine?”
“Yes the IV is in and I’m giving 1mg epinephrine.”

6. Clear messages:
Consist of concise communication spoken with distinctive speech in a
controlled tone of voice
For example: “ Did the patient get IV propofol so I can proceed with the cardioversion?”
“No, I thought you said to give him propranolol.”

7. Clear roles and responsibilities:
Every member of the team should know his or her responsibilities. Just
as different shaped pieces make up a jigsaw puzzle.
• Performing the same task more than once
• Missing essential task
• Freelancing of team members
When roles are unclear, team performance suffers. Signs of unclear roles include

8. Types of emergencies in the cath lab
• V Fib arrest induced by catheter in LV or RV
• Asystole/Cardiac stand still
• Stroke
• Cardiac Stand still
• Air/Clot Embolism

9. Your role in intra-procedure emergencies
Circulator
• Initiates primary CAB’s of life support
• Administers all medications & repeats name and dose of all medications to the doctor and
person recording
• Titrates all drips according to MD orders
• Defibrillate/Oxygenate patient as needed
• Directs additional personnel that come into the
room to assist
• Reconciles Epic report and code sheet

10. Scrub
a. Raise image intensifier, move camera back, pull table over base
b. Maintain sterile field including back table
c. Performs chest compressions until relieved
d. Assist MD
Your role in intra-procedure emergencies

11. Monitor
a. Call for extra help first, i.e. board runner, respiratory, stat drugs from pharmacy
b. Come in room and assist with patient care ( ie, airway, cpr )
c. Will observe the monitor, assisting the MD with
arrhythmia interpretation
e. When enough personnel are present, return to
control booth to continue monitoring
Your role in intra-procedure emergencies

12. Benefits of a debriefing after a CODE
Improving Patient Care:
Discussing what worked well, including interventions used and team performance
can help improve patient care in the future.

13. Benefits of a debriefing after a CODE
Enhance Communication:
Team members can discuss what aspects of communication was
effective and brainstorm more effectively together.

14. Benefits of a debriefing after a CODE
Facilitate Teamwork:
Team members coming together to discuss events and sharing
thoughts can Improve teamwork.

15. Benefits of a debriefing after a CODE
Decompress:
Codes can be stressful on many levels. Medical professionals are expected to focus
and work through tense and difficult situation, but team members are also human. Having
the opportunity to discuss intense feelings and the emotional component of
a code can be helpful in preventing burnout.

16. Thank You!