title: In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Update on Pulseless Electrical Activity and Asystole.
abstract: Nonshockable rhythms, including pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole, precede more than 70% of in-hospital cardiac arrests (I-HCA). Compared with shockable rhythms (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), nonshockable rhythms have higher mortality and morbidity. Therefore, investigating the underlying mechanisms of these arrhythmias to improve the quality of care and outcome for patients who suffer cardiac arrest is a priority. As the first responders to I-HCA, nurses must have the proper knowledge and training to provide timely and efficient cardiopulmonary resuscitation therapy. This article provides an overview of nonshockable cardiac arrhythmias preceding I-HCA as a means of addressing the gap between science and clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 601 Elmwood Avenue, BOX SON, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: Mina_Attin@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attin
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 601 Elmwood Avenue, BOX SON, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 601 Elmwood Avenue, BOX SON, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000193:education; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
keywords: Asystole; Cardiac arrhythmia; In-hospital cardiac arrest; Pulseless electrical activity; Resuscitation