Preventable life-threatening events claim the lives of many Americans each year. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of these types of events, which accounts for 325,000 American deaths yearly. Medical personnel can prepare for these events and increase the chances of survival through advanced emergency training.
The American Heart Association (AHA) initiated a system known as the Chain of Survival to increase the chances of surviving an acute cardiac event. The series involves recognizing the warning signs, activating the emergency medical system, resuscitation, defibrillation, intubation, and interventional medications. The chain includes early access to emergency medical assistance, early basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation, and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS).
ACLS refers to protocols, guidelines, and responses to immediately attend to individuals experiencing life-threatening events such as cardiac arrest, stroke, trauma, and shock. ACLS guidelines intend to set memorable international standards that medical professionals can perform in acute settings to improve the speed, outcomes, and effectiveness of the response. It equips the responders with guidelines to resuscitate and stabilize the individual.
Unlike other protocols found in the chain of survival, ACLS does not intend to reverse any underlying condition of the individual but rather save lives. ACLS extends beyond the other chain life support protocols and applies to multi-system interventions. ACLS addresses restoring breathing. This can involve opening constricted airways from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and allergic reactions. It can also include stabilizing the airway by placing a breathing tube and a ventilator to assist breathing if available.
ACLS also addresses cardiovascular issues, especially abnormal heartbeats and the inability of the heart and lungs to deliver enough oxygenated blood to various organs, especially the brain. ACLS protocols include re-inflating collapsed lungs and low or high-energy electrical shocks to attain the correct heart rate in conjunction with CPR. The latter involves chest compressions in paced numbers.
Sometimes the emergency medical care procedure requires administration of intravenous fluids and medications. These can help with conditions like allergic reactions, excessive acid in the body, irregular heartbeats, fluid build-up, and clotting.
The typical conditions requiring ACLS include coma, drug toxicity, and electrolyte imbalance. The latter arises from excess or lack of elements necessary for normal function, especially potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The imbalance can damage nerves, the heart, and lungs. Individuals with severe allergic reactions, terminal illnesses, and underlying heart conditions may require ACLS.
Trained healthcare providers, including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, can perform these procedures. It can generally be provided in surgical offices and in the hospital. The emergency may happen outside of health facilities, and ACLS protocols account for various scenarios. ACLS strives to provide guidelines that provide the best possible outcomes for the patient’s survival.
