Today I participated in an ER simulation for ER residents 1-3. They came in to our little "make believe" trauma room and were presented with a certain case.
The R1s had a 65yo man come in with cardiac arrest. About 5 mins in he looses his pulse and here I come...all 5'1 and 120lbs of me trying to compress his chest (administer CPR). Luckily, one of the residents was thoughtful enough to pull out a stepping stool for me...hahaha.
Anyway, after intubating and administering oxygen, we defribillate him (zap him with some electric charge) and continue chest compressions. Still, no pulse. After about 20 or so mins and three rounds of zapping, we finally get a pulse and save the day! lol...
Anyway, the common sense question was how long do you basically breathe and act like the heart for a patient before you finally "call it?" Well according to the attendings, 30mins.
THIRTY mins is all the time your heart gets to get back in the game....So let's just hope all of our hearts get that memo before we go into cardiac arrest!
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