Which ACLS drugs that can be given through endotracheal tube in absence of IV/IO access?
Epinephrine
Lidocaine
Vassopressin
Reader Interactions
Comments
Donna Collinssays
Narcan is not listed as an ACLS drug but ABSOLUTELY needs to be owing to the need to treat opiate overdose in our hospitals, correctional facilities and communities! It’s time to change the algorithm (ACLS, 2010). Also amiodarone is a drug-drug interaction with methadone that will prolong the QTc interval (www.qtdrugs.org). Torsades de pointes is a cardiac arrhythmia in methadone toxicity. The treatment is external pacing. Clearly this is missing from the ACLS algorithm. Opiate Overdose is a Reversible Cause of death…if we remember to reverse it with narcan. I think we have had enough opiate-related deaths already. It really is time to change this algorithm and get some education to people who use the algorithm to save lives. We might even try a fridge magnet so that we don’t forget! People’s lives are counting on us healthcare professionals to get it right!
Narcan is not listed as an ACLS drug but ABSOLUTELY needs to be owing to the need to treat opiate overdose in our hospitals, correctional facilities and communities! It’s time to change the algorithm (ACLS, 2010). Also amiodarone is a drug-drug interaction with methadone that will prolong the QTc interval (www.qtdrugs.org). Torsades de pointes is a cardiac arrhythmia in methadone toxicity. The treatment is external pacing. Clearly this is missing from the ACLS algorithm. Opiate Overdose is a Reversible Cause of death…if we remember to reverse it with narcan. I think we have had enough opiate-related deaths already. It really is time to change this algorithm and get some education to people who use the algorithm to save lives. We might even try a fridge magnet so that we don’t forget! People’s lives are counting on us healthcare professionals to get it right!
Donna Collins
Saint John, NB Canada
LEAN Pneumonic
L Lidocaine
E Epinephrine
A Atropine
N Narcan
2-2,5x the IV dose