Question

Because the best ALS therapies for the shockable and non-shockable rhythms differ and the ECG is highly susceptible to motion artifact, if the team does not agree on the rhythm diagnosis during the pause in chest compressions at the end of a BLS cycle, resumption of chest compressions should be delayed until all members of the team examine the ECG and agree upon a rhythm diagnosis.

Answer 1

In cardiac emergencies, use of AEDs and defibrillation is vital, and chest compressions should not be delayed over team disagreements on rhythm diagnosis. Defibrillators reset heart rhythms like ventricular fibrillation. CPR is often necessary before defibrillation, and AEDs now provide automated rhythm analysis and shock delivery.

Step-by-step explanation:

During cardiac emergencies, immediate action and correct interpretation of heart rhythms are crucial. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and defibrillation techniques are critical lifesaving tools. In the event of a disagreement among the resuscitation team about the rhythm diagnosis, chest compressions should not be delayed; treatment decisions must be based on the best available information without undue delay.

Defibrillators deliver a large electrical charge to interrupt heart arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation, allowing the heart to reset and resume normal rhythm. This is often depicted on television as using large paddles to distribute the current and reduce the risk of burns. Modern AEDs, available in many public places, can analyze the heart's rhythm and automatically deliver a shock with appropriate energy and waveform.