Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating and blood is no longer pumped to the brain and other parts of the body. Respiratory arrest, on the other hand, is a situation where an individual stops breathing, which in turn, can lead to cardiac arrest as the body is deprived of oxygen.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency where the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, leading to a loss of blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body. This can result in unconsciousness and death if not treated promptly with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Causes of cardiac arrest can include heart disease, heart attack, electrocution, drug overdose, and other cardiac events.
The pathophysiology of cardiac arrest refers to the changes in the body’s normal functioning that occur when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively. The following are the key events in the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest:
- Ventricular fibrillation: This is an abnormal heart rhythm where the heart quivers instead of contracting, which results in the heart not being able to pump blood effectively.
- Ischemia: The lack of blood flow due to cardiac arrest causes ischemia, or a lack of oxygen, in the heart and brain, leading to cell death.
- Hypoxia: As the heart stops beating, the body is deprived of oxygen, leading to hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Acidosis: As a result of hypoxia and cell death, acidosis occurs, where the blood becomes more acidic.
- Loss of consciousness: As a result of hypoxia and acidosis, the individual becomes unconscious and may experience cardiac arrest.
Treatment for cardiac arrest, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, is aimed at restoring a normal heart rhythm and blood flow to the body. The prompt initiation of CPR and defibrillation can greatly improve the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
Respiratory Arrest
Respiratory arrest is a medical emergency where a person stops breathing or has inadequate breathing, leading to a lack of oxygen in the body and a buildup of carbon dioxide. This can lead to unconsciousness, cardiac arrest and death if not treated promptly. Causes of respiratory arrest can include choking, drug overdose, drowning, severe asthma attack and other respiratory events. Prompt medical intervention, such as resuscitation and administration of oxygen, is necessary to save a patients life.
The pathophysiology of respiratory arrest refers to the changes in the body’s normal functioning that occur when breathing stops or becomes inadequate. The following are the key events in the pathophysiology of respiratory arrest:
- Hypoxia: When breathing stops or becomes inadequate, the body is deprived of oxygen, leading to hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Carbon dioxide accumulation: At the same time, carbon dioxide builds up in the body due to inadequate removal through respiration.
- Acidosis: The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body leads to acidosis, where the blood becomes more acidic.
- Loss of consciousness: As a result of hypoxia and acidosis, the individual becomes unconscious.
- Cardiac arrest: Prolonged respiratory arrest can lead to cardiac arrest, as the body is deprived of oxygen and the blood becomes more acidic.
Treatment for respiratory arrest, such as resuscitation and administration of oxygen, is aimed at restoring normal breathing and removing carbon dioxide from the body. The prompt initiation of resuscitation and administration of oxygen can greatly improve the chances of survival for someone experiencing respiratory arrest.