Immediate post-cardiac arrest care algorithm

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This case presents how to respond to someone who collapses outside of the hospital setting from either ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT). You are alone and must manage the patient by yourself. You do not have the option of ACLS interventions which you learned from ACLS online certification, including advanced airway control and IV medications. You have an automated external defibrillator (AED) with a pocket face mask. The second AED case focuses on the assessment and management of a patient in a witnessed cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT). The patient did not respond to the first shock. A manual defibrillator is used in this case, and you work with a care team.

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Current version
Jun 27, 2023

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Changes: Updated post-cardiac arrest care protocols
Jul 1, 2021

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