Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Clinical Integrated Ultrasound in Peri Cardiac Arrest and Cardiac Arrest

Roberto Copetti

Early recognition of the deteriorating patient and prevention of cardiac arrest is the first link in the Chain of Survival. Once cardiac arrest occurs, fewer than 20% of patients having an in-hospital cardiac arrest will survive to go home. Peri cardiac arrest period is the recognized period, either just before or just after a full cardiac arrest, when the patient’s condition is very unstable and care must be taken to prevent progression or regression into a full cardiac arrest. So all instable patient is at risk of cardiac arrest. A rapid identification of reversible causes of cardiac arrest is crucial for the correct treatment and outcome of these patients. As well to identify precociously the peri cardiac arrest conditions prevents cardiac arrest.

Ultrasound seems to be an ideal tool for a rapid diagnosis. The integration of data that can rapidly be obtain from heart, lung, inferior vena cava, abdomen and leg vein examination are often essential for the diagnosis and treatment.

The role and potentiality of integrated ultrasound in peri and cardiac arrest are considered in this paper.