Pulseless electrical activity history and symptoms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Overview
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
A quick thorough history should be taken to check for the following:[1][2][3][4]
- Risk factors for myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism
- Any trauma
- Severe fluid loss
- Exposure to low temperatures
- Risk of metabolic derangements
- Loss of consciousness
- Apnea
- History of drug intake in patients in whom drug overdose is suspected
Symptoms
Absence of palpable pulse is the main finding. Depending upon the cause, the following might be found:
- Tracheal deviation in or the unilateral absence of breath sounds in tension pneumothorax
- Decreased skin turgor
- Traumatic chest
- Cool extremities
- Tachycardia
- Cyanosis
References
References
- ↑ “StatPearls”. 2020. PMID 30020721.
- ↑ Myerburg RJ, Halperin H, Egan DA, Boineau R, Chugh SS, Gillis AM, Goldhaber JI, Lathrop DA, Liu P, Niemann JT, Ornato JP, Sopko G, Van Eyk JE, Walcott GP, Weisfeldt ML, Wright JD, Zipes DP (December 2013). “Pulseless electric activity: definition, causes, mechanisms, management, and research priorities for the next decade: report from a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop”. Circulation. 128 (23): 2532–41. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.004490. PMID 24297818.
- ↑ Patil KD, Halperin HR, Becker LB (June 2015). “Cardiac arrest: resuscitation and reperfusion”. Circ. Res. 116 (12): 2041–9. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.304495. PMC 5920653. PMID 26044255.
- ↑ Jayarangaiah A, Epperla N (November 2015). “Early recognition is the key to success: pulseless electrical activity (PEA) as a manifestation of heparin-induced anaphylactoid reaction”. BMJ Case Rep. 2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210828. PMC 4654208. PMID 26538127.
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