Category Cardiology
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Syncope

Syncope is transient, self-limited loss of consciousness with an inability to maintain postural tone that is followed by spontaneous recovery. Such an event without loss of consciousness is often termed “presyncope”. Underlying cause is often not found in the emergency department (~50%)

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

pCO2 gap

pCO2 gap is a surrogate for cardiac output; pCO2 gap = PcvCO2 - PaCO2; pCO2 gap >6 mmHg suggests a persistent shock state that may be amenable to fluid resuscitation +/- intrope support; a “ScvO2-cvaCO2gap-guided protocol” has been proposed to guide the management of septic shock

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) replaces the function of the heart and lungs while the heart is arrested to provide a bloodless, stable surgical field

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Pulseless Electrical Activity

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) occurs when organised or semi-organised electrical activity of the heart persists but the product of systemic vascular resistance and the increase in systemic arterial flow generated by the ejection of the left ventricular stroke volume is not sufficient to produce a clinically detectable pulse

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Coarctation of Aorta

Coarctation of Aorta: congenital condition characterised by narrowing of the aorta near the site where the ductus arteriosus (ligamentum arteriosum after regression) inserts.