Question

The PALS team is providing post-cardiac arrest care to an 8-year-old child in the pediatric intensive care unit. _____ intervention would the team implement to achieve the primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care, after assuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation?

Answer 1

The primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care is to preserve neurological function and prevent further injury. A key intervention after assuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation is controlled hypothermia, along with the administration of pulmonary surfactant and provision of supportive therapies.

Step-by-step explanation:

After ensuring that an 8-year-old child who has experienced a cardiac arrest has adequate oxygenation and ventilation, the post-cardiac arrest care team in the pediatric intensive care unit would likely implement several interventions. To achieve the primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care, which is to preserve neurological function and prevent further injury, one key intervention is controlled hypothermia. This technique involves reducing the patient's body temperature to approximately 91 degrees Fahrenheit, inducing coma, and maintaining this condition for 24 hours to slow the metabolic rate and reduce the heart's workload.

Additional interventions may include the administration of pulmonary surfactant and the maintenance of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) if spontaneous breathing occurs. Moreover, supportive therapies such as temperature regulation, nutritional support, and antibiotics may be provided to assist in the patient's overall recovery.