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 interventions for hypokalemia and hyperkalemia.

Additional information on causes of hypo and hyperkalemia can be found on Ninja Nerd podcast. Check out the pod resources page at passacls.com.

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Good luck with your ACLS class!

When treating patients having an MI or stroke, more minutes equals more dead cells. Because the majority of strokes are the ischemic type, the treatment for stroke is similar to an MI; to reestablish perfusion to the ischemic tissues.

Review the first four steps in the Stroke Chain of Survival.

Time criteria for the administration of tPA or EVT of LVO strokes.

Stroke benchmarks for door to:

• assessment;
• completing a non-contrast CT; and
• administration of tPA (door-to-needle).

EMS interaction with stroke teams and destination protocols to reduce time to definitive care.

The difference for timed goals for the identification & treatment of AMI vs Stroke.

Additional information about timed goals for stroke and how EMS affects outcomes, can be found on the PassACLS.com pod resources page.

Connect with me:

Website: https://passacls.com

@PassACLS on X (formally known as Twitter)

@Pass-ACLS-Podcast on LinkedIn

Give back - buy Paul a bubble tea here

Good luck with your ACLS class!

Adenosine is the first IV medication given to stable patients with sustained supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) refractory to vagal maneuvers.

Symptoms indicating a stable vs unstable patient.

Common causes of tachycardia.

Cardiac effects of Adenosine.

Indications for use in the ACLS Tachycardia algorithm.

Considerations and contraindications.

Adenosine as a diagnostic for patients in A-Fib or A-Flutter with RVR.

Dosing and administration.

Other podcasts that cover common ACLS antiarrhythmics in more detail and another covering Brugata Criteria used to differentiate V-Tach from SVT with an aberrancy can be found on the Pod Resources page at passacls.com.

Connect with me:

Website: https://passacls.com

@PassACLS on X (formally known as Twitter)

@Pass-ACLS-Podcast on LinkedIn

Give back - buy Paul a bubble tea here

Good luck with your ACLS class!