By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: CPR And Cardiac Arrest Management Of Patients Amid COVID-19
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Cardiology > CPR And Cardiac Arrest Management Of Patients Amid COVID-19
CardiologyCovid-19

CPR And Cardiac Arrest Management Of Patients Amid COVID-19

John Henning
Last updated: May 27, 2020 7:27 pm
John Henning
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

The high transmissibility and number of potential fatalities from COVID-19 has changed how healthcare providers are administering cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR). As a result of the pandemic, the basic procedures for CPR are no longer applicable to large swaths of patients who have contracted the coronavirus. Nowadays, frontliners are grappling at applying resuscitation and adjusting as necessary while ensuring the health of their patients and protecting themselves while providing care.

Contents
CPR AdministrationAssumption of COVID-19 StatusUse of Personal Protective EquipmentBystander CPRCardiac Arrests in COVID-19 Patients

During this time, medical frontliners must review and update their CPR knowledge courses. In general, healthcare providers are advised to follow these general recommendations for managing cardiac arrest patients amid the coronavirus scare:

CPR Administration

The new rules in CPR do not apply for COVID-19 patients. The hierarchy of providing care should follow the ABC of CPR administration. You have to keep in mind that delivering CPR to the patient can generate aerosols. There should be an emphasis on sealing off the aerosols that would be produced by the patient’s airway and breathing before you even proceed on providing the necessary compressions. Never attempt to use a bag-mask for COVID-19 patients.

Before CPR, make sure the patient is wheeled in an isolated room with negative pressure, and that you have the necessary equipment within your reach, so you limit the need for going in and out of the isolated room. Prepare the following:

More Read

man person people woman
10 useful healthcare apps for you during the COVID-19 pandemic
How Telehealth Is Erupting And Changing Due To Coronavirus
How to Get Kids to Wear Face Masks
Good Hygiene During COVID-19: How To Prioritize It
The Value And Criticism Of Robot-Assisted Heart Surgery
  • Aerosol box or plastic drape
  • Blood pressure apparatus
  • Closed-circuit system suction device
  • CPR board
  • Crash cart
  • Defibrillator pads
  • Endotracheal tubes
  • EtCO2
  • Laryngeal mask airway
  • Mechanical CPR device or a LUCAS if available
  • Mechanical vent Stethoscope
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Stylet
  • Surgical kit airway
  • Video laryngoscope

Members of the emergency medical services must remember that during CPR, they should never bag-mask the patient if there is suspicion of COVID-19 infection. As much as possible, administer hand compressions until the advanced airway is secured. If there is an available LUCAS, they should be used the earliest time possible. Should there be available defib pads, use them instead of the traditional paddles.

Should the patient be in a prone position, administer prone CPR. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), rescuers can provide prone CPR if a supine position is not possible.

Assumption of COVID-19 Status

For the safety of all health workers, there should be an assumption that each patient that comes in the emergency room with cardiac arrest is a COVID-19 patient until they can be proven otherwise. The same assumption should be applied for dead-on-arrival (DOA) patients. Since testing for COVID-19 is still limited, it is safer to assume that every patient is positive for the virus.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

It has been widely discussed in the medical industry that pandemics are not emergencies. Healthcare workers should not risk their lives to save another person. They must always ensure their safety first before attempting to provide care for another person. Safety first and always should be the priority. There is a need for medical frontliners to see this fight to the very end, and this is only possible if they have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). The complete PPE for core code team should include:

  • Head-to-toe coveralls
  • Face Shields
  • N95 mask
  • Splash gown or apron
  • Double gloves
  • Rubber footwear

Bystander CPR

Individuals trained to provide CPR as a bystander can attempt to provide CPR, but they should only do so if they have the appropriate PPE. If not, they should not be encouraged to provide basic care. The best thing that they can do is to provide hands-only CPR to the patient under cardiac arrest, particularly if the one to provide is a household member already exposed to the victim.

For children, the AHA guideline encourages giving both mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions. Rescuers, however, must use a face mask to serve as a barrier when giving mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

Cardiac Arrests in COVID-19 Patients

One of the many complications exhibited by COVID-19 patients is cardiac problems. Based on the new study conducted by Chinese researchers, as much as 20% of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 developed heart failure and cardiac damage, both of which can result in cardiac arrest.

The same finding is echoed by medical experts from Italy. They noted that a good number of their COVID-19 patients would develop myocarditis, even if they were physically healthy, to begin with. The New York Times has also previously reported a patient who was initially brought to the emergency room under the assumption of a blocked artery. The patient turns out to have the dreaded coronavirus. While the focus of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is to affect the respiratory system, it seems that it is also causing damage to the cardiac system.

In these trying times, the medical frontliners are risking their lives to ensure that they save as many patients as possible. It is a daunting task to have to limit the level of care to provide for these patients. Healthcare workers should first think about their welfare. Saving their life means saving more patients against this deadly virus.

TAGGED:cardiac arrestcardiac carecoronaviruscovid-19CPRheart careheart healthpandemic
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By John Henning
John Henning is a nutritionist, freelance writer, and food blogger that provides accessible nutrition info to help people live a healthier life. His unique approach to nutrition emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods and healthy habits rather than restrictive diets.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

covid-19 symptoms to look out for
Covid-19News

The Most Serious Symptoms of COVID to Watch Out For

July 3, 2022
Global Healthcare

No, You Won’t Get The Coronavirus From Chinese Food: Busting Coronavirus Myths

March 16, 2020

Elective Coronary Stenting: A Case in Context

August 3, 2011
Covid-19

Disinfection Options To Consider In The New Normal

March 20, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?