ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) – Types & Providers

ACLS is the acronym of Advanced Cardiac Life Support. It is a set of techniques and procedures for treating sudden life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest, shock, stroke, and trauma. The goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for all those individuals.

This process is a series of evidence-based responses compatible enough to memorize and be recalled under some traumatic conditions and stabilize them in the moment of stress. This includes restoring normal essential signs and alertness. These techniques and procedures are categorized into algorithms that are a set of standard guidelines that help in the speed, effectiveness and outcomes of ACLS.

The protocols of ACLS are formed after a lot of research, patient case studies, clinical studies, and the opinions of experts in this respective field. ACLS is a kind of intensive medical care that saves lives but it is not successful in all cases. It does not reverse or cure an underlying end-stage or life-threatening condition.

Types of ACLS Treatments

  • Airway stabilization and treatment including inserting a breathing tube in the windpipe (intubation). Mechanical ventilation that uses a ventilator assists or executes breathing.
  • Pacing to rectify certain abnormal heartbeats
  • Breathing treatments to open constricted airways due to allergic reactions, asthma, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Intravenous (IV) or central venous catheter placement to deliver fluids, blood transfusions and medications
  • Cardioversion to cure certain cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats). A known example is atrial fibrillation. Cardioversion uses medications or low-energy electrical shocks to restore an ordinary heartbeat.
  • IV medications to cure many conditions. IV medications can reverse life-threatening allergic reactions, suppress abnormal heartbeats and correct acidosis. They can help in the reduction of the workload on the heart, decrease fluid buildup, and dissolve a clot that is resulting in a heart attack. They can also help with blood pressure and vital signs.
  • Defibrillation to restore a natural heartbeat using a high-energy electrical shock
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to keep oxygenated blood pumping through the body until the heart and lungs can execute the same function on their own. This demands pushing down fast and firmly on the chest.
  • Oxygen therapy to enhance the amount of oxygen in the blood
  • Arterial line insertion to constantly take blood pressure readings. It also comes with a catheter in an artery to draw blood for necessary lab tests.
  • Needle decompression or Chest tubes to re-inflate a collapsed lung

When Advanced Cardiac Life Support is Performed?

ACLS is performed at the time of severe life-threatening conditions such as:

  • Heart conditions consisting of cardiac arrest, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), certain congenital heart defects (birth defects), and congestive heart failure.
  • Severe allergic reactions come under anaphylaxis, a dangerous allergic reaction
  • Coma due to stroke, head injury, meningitis, seizures, or diabetes
  • Electrolyte imbalance that comes with abnormal amounts of potassium, calcium or magnesium in the bloodstream
  • Arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and rapid atrial fibrillation
  • Shock due to extreme bleeding, spinal cord injury, heart conditions, and sepsis (a body-wide reaction to infection)
  • Trauma and injuries undertaking severe burns, major cuts, head and spinal cord injuries, multiple trauma, and smoke inhalation
  • Drug toxicity and chemical exposure that consists of overdose, poisoning, or major adverse effects of medications and street drugs
  • Respiratory failure including problems because of asthma, pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs), and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
  • Terminal illnesses having end-stage liver failure and advanced cancer

Who are ACLS Providers?

ACLS can only be provided by qualified health care providers because only they have the ability to manage the person’s airway, operate emergency pharmacology, read and interpret electrocardiograms, and initiate vascular access. These providers consist of physicians, pharmacists, paramedics, advanced practice providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners), respiratory therapists, and nurses. The other responders may also be trained to be of help at the time of emergencies.

It is important for the advanced cardiac life support providers to be very particular about their timeliness and to provide the intervention that suitably fits the needs of every individual. A quick and exact assessment of their condition is required for the proper utilization of ACLS. This should not only be followed at the initial stage of assessment but also at the time of reassessment throughout the course of treatment with ACLS.

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Sem Trainers & Systems