What medication is used for pulseless electrical activity?

Resuscitative pharmacology includes epinephrine and atropine. Epinephrine should be administered in 1-mg doses intravenously/intraosseously (IV/IO) every 3-5 minutes during pulseless electrical activity (PEA) arrest.

Which medications should be administered when treating a patient in pulseless electrical activity or asystole?

If asystole or slow PEA (<60/minute), administer Atropine 1 mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes (maximum 3 mg).

How is pulseless treated?

Medical treatment of pulseless VT usually is carried out along with defibrillation and includes intravenous vasopressors and antiarrhythmic drugs. 1 mg of epinephrine IV should be given every 3 to 5 minutes. Epinephrine can be replaced by vasopressin given 40 units IV once.

Do you give atropine for pea?

Atropine is no longer recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) for asystole and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).

What can you do for pulseless electrical activity?

The first step in managing pulseless electrical activity is to begin chest compressions according to the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocol followed by administrating epinephrine every 3 to 5 minutes, while simultaneously looking for any reversible causes.

What can cause pulseless electrical activity?

PEA is always caused by a profound cardiovascular insult (eg, severe prolonged hypoxia or acidosis or extreme hypovolemia or flow-restricting pulmonary embolus). The initial insult weakens cardiac contraction, and this situation is exacerbated by worsening acidosis, hypoxia, and increasing vagal tone.

How does pulseless electrical activity work?

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) occurs when a major cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic derangement results in the inability of cardiac muscle to generate sufficient force in response to electrical depolarization.

Do you shock pulseless v fib?

VF and pulseless VT are shockable rhythms and treated in similar fashion. Asystole and PEA are also included in the cardiac arrest algorithm but are non-shockable rhythms.

Do you do CPR for PEA?

While PEA is classified as a form of cardiac arrest, significant cardiac output may still be present which may be determined and best visualized by bedside ultrasound. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the first treatment for PEA, while potential underlying causes are identified and treated.

Which is the best treatment for pulseless electrical activity?

Pulseless Electrical Activity Treatment & Management 1 Approach Considerations. Once reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity (PEA)… 2 Pharmacologic Therapy. Epinephrine should be administered in 1-mg doses intravenously/intraosseously… 3 Surgical Care. Pericardiocentesis and emergent cardiac surgery may be lifesaving procedures in…

Are there antipsychotic drugs that cause pulseless electrical activity?

Teodorescu C, Reinier K, Uy-Evanado A, et al. Antipsychotic drugs are associated with pulseless electrical activity: the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study. Heart Rhythm. 2013 Apr. 10 (4):526-30. [Medline].

How often should you take epinephrine for pulseless electrical activity?

Epinephrine should be administered in 1-mg doses intravenously/intraosseously (IV/IO) every 3-5 minutes during pulseless electrical activity (PEA) arrest. Higher doses of epinephrine have been studied and show no improvement in survival or neurologic outcomes in most patients.

When to use pulseless electrical activity for pea?

The approach in treatment of PEA is to treat the underlying cause, if known (e.g. relieving a tension pneumothorax). Where an underlying cause for PEA cannot be determined and/or reversed, the treatment of pulseless electrical activity is similar to that for asystole.