Resuscitation Team Leader
OVERVIEW
The roles and priorities in a cardiac arrest situation is dependent on
- the environment where arrest takes place
- the nature of the cardiac arrest, and
- the skill mix of the people in the immediate environment
TEAM LEADER ROLE
- ensure priorities of management are carried out effectively and efficiently
- co-ordinate defibrillation, intubation, cannulation and drug administration
- call for help if indicated (cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologist for TOE)
- establish diagnosis (history, examination and ECG interpretation)
- check resuscitation status and prognosis
- order investigations
- reassess response to treatment
- communicated with admitting consultant
- ensure family is notified
- organise post-resuscitation care
- ensure documentation carried out appropriates
PRIORITIES
- Immediate Basic Life Support
- Rapid rhythm diagnosis with early defibrillation if shockable
- High quality, appropriately timed CPR (with minimal interruptions) – CAB (new AHA/ILCOR guidelines)
- Airway and Breathing – intubation and ventilation, titrated FiO2 to SpO2 90%
- Adrenaline 1mg Q3min IV
- Correction of cause of arrest
- Effective post-resuscitation care (therapeutic hypothermia, care of the dead patient and family)
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC