CARDIAC ARREST ALGORITHM

Cardiac arrest in pediatric patients requires immediate intervention to restore circulation and prevent irreversible organ damage. Effective resuscitation is guided by the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Cardiac Arrest Algorithm.

Key Steps:

• Step 1: Initiate high-quality CPR (compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2 or 15:2 for two rescuers).
• Step 2: Establish vascular access (IV/IO) and administer epinephrine (0.01 mg/kg) every 3-5 minutes.
• Step 3: Perform defibrillation for shockable rhythms (e.g., VF, pulseless VT) with an initial dose of 2 J/kg, escalating to 4 J/kg as needed.
• Step 4: Identify and treat reversible causes (H’s and T’s).

High-quality CPR and timely defibrillation are critical components of successful pediatric cardiac arrest management.