DOSE
■ 0.5–1 g/kg IV/IO (2–4 mL/kg D 25 Win pediatrics, D 10 W in neonates)
INTERVENTIONSTHATARENOTHELPFUL
The following interventions have not been shown to be helpful and are there-
forenotrecommended in the treatment of cardiac arrest:
■ Norepinephrine
■ Procainamide
■ Cardiac pacing in the treatment of asystole
Permanent Pacemakers
Generally agreed upon indications (class I) for permanentpacemaker place-
ment include:
■ High-grade AV block (third-degree and second-degree type II) with
■ Asystole> 3 seconds
■ Escape rate < 40 bpm
■ Following ablation or heart surgery
■ Neuromuscular disease
■ Any symptomatic second- or third-degree AV block
■ Second-degree AV block with wide QRS (indicating BBB)
■ Symptomatic sinus node dysfunction or chronotropic incompetence
Individual pacer function is determined by a 3–5 letter code, employed by the
North American Society of Pacing and Eletrophysiology (see Table 1.11).
RESUSCITATION
Cardiac pacing is not
recommended in the
treatment of asystole.
TABLE 1.11. Interpretation of Pacemaker Codes
1st letter 2nd letter 3rd letter 4th letter 5th letter
CHAMBER CHAMBER RESPONSE TO PROGRAMMABLE ANTITACHYCARDIA
PACED SENSED SENSING FUNCTIONS FEATURES
V = ventricle V= ventricle T= triggered P= programmable rate, P= antitachycardia
output, or both pacing
A= atrium A= atrium I= inhibited M= multiprogrammability S= shock
of rate, output, sensitivity,
etc.
D= dual D= dual D= dual C= communication function D= dual
(telemetry)
O= none O= none O= none R= rate modulation O= none
O= none
VVI pacemaker = ventricular
paced, ventricular sensed,
inhibited (response to
sensing).