Emergency Cardiovascular Care focuses on the respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system of the patient. This is to maximize the outcome for all victims or patients. Emergency cardiovascular care has two component namely, the Basic Life Support (BLS) and the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
Basic Life Support
Basic Life Support can be rapidly performed by trained laypersons and health care providers to ensure recognition of common emergencies, access to Advanced Cardiac Life Support, adequate airway, breathing, and oxygenation, and adequate circulation.
Skills included are Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the use of automated electrical defibrillation, and relief of foreign body airway obstruction.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Advanced Cardiac Life Support includes Basic Life Support plus the use of adjunct equipment to support ventilation.
Skills included are establishment of an Intravenous access, administration of drugs, use of cardiac monitoring, defibrillation or other control of arrhythmias, and care after resuscitation.
Chain of Survival
- Early Access
- Early Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
- Early Defibrillation
- Early Advanced care
First Link: Early Access
Problem: Long emergency call-to-defibrillation intervals are common.
Key to effectiveness of this link: Recognition of early warning signs.
Second Link: Early Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is most effective when started immediately after collapse.
Bystander CPR has been consistently shown to have a significant positive effect on survival. Is considered to be the best treatment that a cardiac arrest patient can receive until the arrival of defibrillation and ACLS care.
Third Link: Early Defibrillation
The link that will most likely improve the survival rate of the patient. The time to defibrillate is the crucial variable for successful conversion from Ventricular Fibrillation to a normal rhythm. Every minute that passes can reduce the chance for successful conversion by 7-10%.
Fourth Link: Early Advanced Care
Is designed to prevent cardiac arrest through the use of advanced airway management, administration of medicine, and other interventions. This includes therapies that help resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest who are not responding to defibrillation. It can provide defibrillation if ventricular tachycardia develops and helps stabilize the patient after resuscitation.
