Answer:
After administering intravenous epinephrine, you should pause compressions and reassess the baby's heart rate approximately 60 seconds later.
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Epinephrine administration: Epinephrine is commonly used in resuscitation efforts for newborns experiencing cardiac arrest. It works by stimulating the heart and increasing blood flow.
2. Compressions: During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for infants, chest compressions are performed to pump blood through the body manually. Compressions are a crucial part of resuscitation efforts.
3. Pausing compressions: After administering intravenous epinephrine, it is important to pause chest compressions briefly to reassess the baby's heart rate. This pause allows for evaluating the effectiveness of the medication and the overall response to resuscitation efforts.
4. Timing: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends pausing chest compressions for approximately 60 seconds to reassess the baby's heart rate after administering intravenous epinephrine. This timing provides sufficient time for the medication to take effect and for any changes in heart rate to be observed.
5. Reassessment: During the pause in compressions, the baby's heart rate should be checked. If the heart rate remains below the desired range, further resuscitative measures may be needed, including additional doses of epinephrine or other interventions.
In summary, after administering intravenous epinephrine during infant resuscitation, it is recommended to pause chest compressions and reassess the baby's heart rate approximately 60 seconds later. This allows for evaluating the medication's effectiveness and guides further resuscitative actions if necessary.