ACLS Study Guide
- 4th Edition - December 8, 2011
- Latest edition
- Author: Barbara J. Aehlert
- Language: English
Reflecting the 2010 Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines, ACLS Study Guide, 4th Edition offers a complete, full-color overview of advanced cardiovascular life support.… Read more
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Reflecting the 2010 Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines, ACLS Study Guide, 4th Edition offers a complete, full-color overview of advanced cardiovascular life support. An easy-to-read approach covers everything from airway management and rhythms and their management to electrical therapy, acute coronary syndromes, and acute stroke. In addition to the latest ACLS treatment algorithms, this edition includes new case studies, new photos and illustrations, a heart rate ruler, and a handy ACLS quick-reference card for use in the field. Written by Barbara Aehlert, ACLS Study Guide is the official textbook for the American Safety & Health Institute ACLS certification course.
- A pretest and posttest -- each containing 50 questions with answers and rationales -- allow you to check your knowledge prior to and after your study.
- Chapter objectives preview the main points in each chapter.
- Stop and Review sections at the end of the chapters help you remember the most important information.
- ACLS Pearls boxes offer key points and useful tips for clinical practice.
- Keeping it Simple boxes provide essential information in a clear and concise manner.
- Ten case studies present real-life clinical situations, allowing you to make decisions based on information in the Preparatory section.
- Consistent format of case studies includes Objective, Skills to Master, Rhythms to Master, Medications to Master, Related Text Chapters, Essential Actions, and Unacceptable Actions.
- A heart rate ruler is included to help you interpret ECGs.
- 4 x 6 pocket-size quick-reference card contains key ACLS algorithms for field use.
Pretest
Pretest Answers
PART I: PREPARATORY
1. The ABCDs of Emergency Cardiovascular Care
Introduction
Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease
Sudden Cardiac Death
Chain of Survival
- Early Recognition and Activation
- Early CPR
- Early Defibrillation
- Early Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Integration of Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
Phases of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Patient Assessment
- Scene Safety
- General Impression
- Primary Survey
- Secondary Survey
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
2. Airway Management: Oxygenation and Ventilation
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
- Upper Airway
- Lower Airway
Lung Volumes and Capacities
- Lung Volumes
- Lung Capacities
- Ventilation Rates
Devices for Assessing Oxygenation and Ventilation
- Pulse Oximetry
- Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
Oxygen Delivery Devices
- Nasal Cannula
- Simple Face Mask
- Partial Rebreather Mask
- Nonrebreather Mask
Manual Airway Maneuvers
- Head Tilt-chin Lift
- Jaw Thrust
- Jaw Thrust without Head Tilt
Suctioning
- Purpose of Suctioning
- Suction Catheters
- Upper Airway Suctioning
- Lower Airway Suctioning
Airway Adjuncts
- Oral Airway
- Nasal Airway
Techniques of Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Mouth-to-Barrier Device Ventilation
- Mouth-to-Mask Ventilation
- Bag-Mask Ventilation
Advanced Airways
- Esophageal-Tracheal Combitube
- King Laryngeal Tube Airway
- Laryngeal Mask Airway
- Tracheal Intubation
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
3. Rhythms and Management
Introduction
Section 1: Anatomy Review and Basic Electrophysiology
Coronary Arteries
Basic Electrophysiology
- Myocardial Cell Types
- Properties of Cardiac Cells
- Cardiac Action Potential
- Refractory Periods
- Conduction System
The Electrocardiogram
- Electrodes
- Leads
- Electrocardiogram Paper
- Waveforms and Complexes
- Segments and Intervals
Rhythm Recognition
- Sinus Rhythm
- Sinus Arrhythmia
Section 2: Tachydysrhythmias: Too Fast Rhythms
Narrow-QRS Tachycardias
- Sinus Tachycardia
- Atrial Tachycardia
- AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
- AV Reentrant Tachycardia
- Junctional Tachycardia
Wide-QRS Tachycardias
- Intraventricular Conduction Defects
- Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Irregular Tachycardias
- Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
- Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation
- Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
Section 3: Bradydysrhythmias: Too Slow Rhythms
Sinus Bradycardia
- What Causes It?
- What Do I Do About It?
Junctional Escape Rhythm
- What Causes It?
- What Do I Do About It?
Ventricular Escape Rhythm
- What Causes It?
- What Do I Do About It?
Atrioventricular (AV) Blocks
- First-Degree AV Block
- Second-Degree AV Blocks
- Third-Degree AV Block
Section 4: Cardiac Arrest Rhythms
Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Fibrillation
Asystole (Cardiac Standstill)
Pulseless Electrical Activity
The Resuscitation Team
- Goals of the Resuscitation Team
- Configuration of the Resuscitation Team
- Code Organization - "Phase Response"
- Helping the Caregivers
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
4. Electrical Therapy
Introduction
Defibrillation
- Definition and Purpose
- Energy, Voltage, and Current
- Monophasic versus Biphasic Defibrillation
- Transthoracic Impedance
- Defibrillation Ð Procedure
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
- AED Features
- AED Operation
- Special Considerations
- Maintenance
Synchronized Cardioversion
- Description and Purpose
- Procedure
Defibrillation and Cardioversion
- Special Considerations
- Possible Complications
- Possible Errors
Transcutaneous Pacing
- Procedure
- Limitations
- Possible Complications
- Pacemaker Malfunction
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
5. Acute Coronary Syndromes
Introduction
Pathophysiology of Acute Coronary Syndromes
- Plaque Rupture
- Thrombus Development
- Coronary Artery Obstruction
- Other Causes of Acute Coronary Syndromes
Forms of Acute Coronary Syndromes
- Unstable Angina
- Myocardial Infarction
History and Clinical Presentation
- Patient History
- Typical Symptoms
- Anginal Equivalents
- Atypical Presentation
- Physical Examination
Patient Evaluation
- Electrocardiogram Findings
- Cardiac Biomarkers
- Imaging Studies
Initial Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes
- General Measures
- Analgesic and Anti-ischemic Therapy
- Antiplatelet Therapy
- Aspirin and Clopidogrel
- Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
- Anticoagulant Therapy
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Fibrinolytic Therapy
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Dysrhythmias
- Ventricular aneurysm
- Ventricular septal rupture
- Papillary muscle rupture
- Cardiac wall rupture
- Hypotension
- Ventricular Failure
- Pericarditis
- Embolic Complications
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
6. Acute Stroke
Objectives
Introduction
Stroke Facts
Classification of Stroke by Anatomic Location
Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
Stroke Chain of Survival
- Detection
- Dispatch
- Delivery
- Door
- Data
- Decision
- Drug
- Disposition
Stop and Review
Stop and Review Answers
PART II: CASE STUDIES
Case 1: Respiratory Arrest
Case 2: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation with an AED
Case 3: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation
Case 4: Asystole
Case 5: Pulseless Electrical Activity
Case 6: Acute Coronary Syndromes
Case 7: Symptomatic Bradycardia
Case 8: Unstable Tachycardia NEW!
Case 9: Stable Tachycardia NEW!
Case 10: Acute Ischemic Stroke NEW!
Posttest
- Posttest Answers
Answer Appendix
Glossary
- Edition: 4
- Latest edition
- Published: December 8, 2011
- Language: English
BA
Barbara J. Aehlert
Barbara Aehlert has been a registered nurse for more than 40 years, with clinical experience in medical/surgical nursing, critical care nursing, prehospital education, and nursing education. Barbara is an active CPR and ACLS instructor, and she is also the sole author of our flagship title, ECGs Made Easy, as well as the ACLS Study Guide.
Affiliations and expertise
Southwest EMS Education, Inc., USA