Podcast 520:  Approach to the arresting patient

Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Peri-arrest patients present a particular challenge to ED providers, as the differential is broad and time is critical  The differential for near cardiac arrest includes the “H’s and T’s”, just as in true cardiac arrest  The 6 H’s include: hypoxia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypovolemia (including shock states), hydrogen (acidosis), hypothermia  The 6 T’s include: tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, thrombus (PE/MI), toxins, trauma  Use your history skills to narrow down this list (i.e renal failure leads to hyperkalemia, trauma leads to tension pneumothorax or tamponade)   Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD