Advances in Cardiac Resuscitation in the Emergency Department

Points & Pearls Excerpt

• Cardiac resuscitation involves 2 simultaneous actions: (1) interventions to promote perfusion; and (2) correction of the underlying etiology.
• Cardiac arrest is a severe form of cardiogenic shock (pulse cannot be palpated). Cardiac resuscitation is the treatment of cardiogenic shock.
• Presenting complaints of a patient in cardiogenic shock include dyspnea, chest pain, lower extremity edema, and altered mental status.²¹
• Congestive heart failure that progresses to cardiogenic shock results in cool extremities, delayed capillary refill, narrow pulse pressure (PP), and altered mental status.