What the AED Is Telling Us

Upon conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe basic cardiac physiology and the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic functions of the heart; 
• Demonstrate comprehension of AED technology and protocols;
• Understand and differentiate between common shockable and nonshockable cardiac rhythms;
• Use rhythms to guide clinical decision making in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Resources

ACLSalgorithms.com. H’s and T’s of ACLS, https://acls-algorithms.com/hsandts/. 

Arias E, Xu J. United States Life Tables, 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports, 2019; 68(7).  

Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. 2019 Annual Report, https://mycares.net/sitepages/uploads/2020/2019_flipbook/index.html. 

Delgado H. Toquero J, Mitroi C, Castro V, Lozano IF. Principles of External Defibrillators. IntechOpen, 2013; www.intechopen.com/books/cardiac-defibrillation/principles-of-external-defibrillators. 

Mayo Clinic. Ventricular fibrillation, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ventricular-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20364523. 

Mayo Clinic. Ventricular tachycardia, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ventricular-tachycardia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355138. 

Oliver TI, Sadiq U, Grossman SA. Pulseless Electrical Activity. StatPearls [Internet], 2020; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513349/. 

SaveaLife by NHCPS. Pulseless Electrical Activity Asystole, https://nhcps.com/lesson/acls-cases-pulseless-electrical-activity-asystole/. 

SaveaLife by NHCPS. Ventricular fibrillation and Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia, https://nhcps.com/lesson/acls-cases-ventricular-fibrillation-pulseless-ventricular-tachycardia.