I'm Paul from PassACLS.com and I'm here to help you pass ACLS. Like an audio flash card, this podcast is intended to aid any medical professional preparing for an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) class. Each three-to-nine minute episode covers one of the skills needed to recognize a stroke or cardiac emergency and work as a high performing team to deliver safe, quality patient care.
Listening to a tip a day for a few weeks prior to your ACLS class will help cement the core concepts that have been shown to improve outcomes in patients suffering a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or stroke. In addition to the Chain of Survival, core concepts, and ACLS algorithms; specific information needed to pass the written exam, BLS checks, and megacode following the 2020 guidelines is presented.
Healthcare providers that are already ACLS certified, but rarely participate in codes, may find listening a helpful reminder.
Disclaimer: This podcast is a supplement to your course's approved text book and videos - not a replacement. The information presented is for educational purposes only, is intended for medical professionals, and is not medical advice. Medical professionals should follow their local laws, agency protocols, and act only within their scope of practice.
Remembering all the different energy setting needed for synchronized cardioversion and defibrillation used to be confusing for a lot of people. Defibrillators can be broken down into three basic categories: 1. Automated External Defibrillator (AED); 2. Biphasic defibrillators; and 3. Monophasic defibrillators. Use of an AED to rapidly deliver a shock. Advantages & use of Biphasic defibrillators. For monophasic defibrillators, use 360J to defibrillate V-Fib or pulseless V-Ta...
Jan 28, 2025•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Patients with a heart rate less than 60 are bradycardic. Some people can have a resting heart rate in the 40s without any compromise. For others, a heart rate of 50 or less could signify the need for immediate intervention and warrants additional assessment. Signs & symptoms that indicate a bradycardic patient is unstable. Monitoring oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry and indications for administration of oxygen. Calcium channel blockers and beta blocker medication as treatable...
Jan 27, 2025•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast
The goal of CPR is to keep the brain and vital organs perfused until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved. Post-arrest care and recovery are the final two links in the chain of survival. Identification of ROSC during CPR. Initial patient management goals after identifying ROSC. The patient’s GCS/LOC should be evaluated to determine if targeted temperature management (TTM) is indicated. Patients that cannot obey simple commands should receive TTM for at least 24 hours. Recently pu...
Jan 24, 2025•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast
The chain of survival for ACLS is the same as was learned in your BLS class. The beginning steps of the Cardiac Emergency and Stroke chain of survival. ACLS's timed goals for first medical contact to PCI for STEMI and door-to-needle for ischemic stroke. Characteristics of areas that have significantly better stroke and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes. Connect with me: Website: https://passacls.com @Pass-ACLS-Podcast on LinkedIn Give Back & Help Others: Your support helps cover ...
Jan 23, 2025•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Heart muscle contraction and repolarization is dependent on Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium ions crossing cellular membranes. When a patient’s potassium levels get too low or too high, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia results respectively. Two things that may lead us to suspect hypo or hyperkalemia. Medical conditions & medications that can cause potassium imbalance. ECG changes seen in hypo and hyperkalemia. Critical lab values that would indicate a need for treatment. Emergent, ACLS i...
Jan 22, 2025•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast
