Pulseless electrical activity laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Athough there are no diagnostic laboratory findings associated with PEA(pulseless electrical activity) testing should be ordered to rule out the most common reversible causes of PEA(pulseless electrical activity) like Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia, hypoxia and acidosis which can be seen withABG, exsanguination hematocrit.

Laboratory Findings

There are no diagnostic laboratory findings associated with pulseless electrical activity.
Laboratory findings consistent with the causes of pulseless electrical activity include:^[1]^[2]
Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia should be ruled out
A stat arterial blood gas will provide information regarding the presence of hypoxia and acidosis
A stat hematocrit can also be checked on the arterial blood gas to evaluate the patient for exsanguination
Any patient with drug overdose can undergo a rapid urine or blood screen to identify the cause of the problem.

References

↑ 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.
↑ Oliver TI, Sadiq U, Grossman SA. PMID 30020721. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Overview