Rationale

Cardiac arrest is life-threatening. Timely basic and advanced cardiac life support improves patient survival outcomes.

Causal Conditions

(list not exhaustive)

1. Coronary artery disease

2. Cardiac conduction abnormalities

3. Myocardial abnormalities

4. Noncardiac causes (e.g., tension pneumothorax, pulmonary embolus, hypothermia)

Key Objectives

Given a patient with cardiac arrest, the candidate will be able to initiate immediate acute cardiac life support and construct an appropriate subsequent management plan.

Enabling Objectives

Given a patient with cardiac arrest, the candidate will

1. list and interpret critical clinical findings, including

   1. pulseless circulatory state; and

   2. features that may help determine the cause of the arrest;

2. list and interpret critical investigations; and

3. construct an effective management plan, including

   1. initiating basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocols; and

   2. communicating with family members concerning the event, including

      • outcome,

      • organ donation, and

      • autopsy request.