In pulseless electrical activity (PEA), what is the recommended pharmacologic therapy?

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Multiple Choice

In pulseless electrical activity (PEA), what is the recommended pharmacologic therapy?

In pulseless electrical activity, you have organized electrical activity without a palpable pulse, so the focus is on maintaining perfusion during CPR and using a vasopressor to improve blood flow to the heart and brain. The best pharmacologic therapy is epinephrine given 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes during CPR. Its alpha-adrenergic effects increase aortic diastolic pressure and coronary perfusion, which helps raise the chance of return of spontaneous circulation. Defibrillation isn’t appropriate here because the rhythm is not one of the shockable types; adenosine is used for certain tachyarrhythmias, and amiodarone is reserved for refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless VT after shocks.

In pulseless electrical activity, you have organized electrical activity without a palpable pulse, so the focus is on maintaining perfusion during CPR and using a vasopressor to improve blood flow to the heart and brain. The best pharmacologic therapy is epinephrine given 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes during CPR. Its alpha-adrenergic effects increase aortic diastolic pressure and coronary perfusion, which helps raise the chance of return of spontaneous circulation. Defibrillation isn’t appropriate here because the rhythm is not one of the shockable types; adenosine is used for certain tachyarrhythmias, and amiodarone is reserved for refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless VT after shocks.

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