Monday, August 14, 2017

ABC vs CAB for CPR

Hello :)

If someone ask the medical personnel, What is ABC ?
Unfailingly, the answer will be A-airway, B-breathing ,C-Circulation.

But now this has been changed to C-A-B.(I didn't know this)
C-Compression /circulation
A-airway
B-breathing

(SOURCE :- I took the following content from https://medictests.com/abc-vs-cab-correct/ )

In 2010 the AHA made a radical change to how we approach CPR.  Up until then we all lived by the trusty "ABC" (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) method of resuscitation.  Not surprisingly, though, the AHA's ongoing research began to show that compressions are the most important part of CPR and any delay or interruption resulted in worse outcomes.  It was also discovered that during CPR, the patient's blood stays oxygenated for 4-6 minutes after their last breath.  In response to this research, and in an attempt to simplify CPR for untrained laypeople, the AHA decided to switch our initial approach from ABC to CAB.  While this change is medically sound, it has cause a lot of confusion for healthcare professionals who regularly use ABC for other scenarios.  So, ABC vs CAB, which is correct?

With indisputable evidence that compressions are the most important part of CPR, it is no wonder that AHA has been dee-mphasizing airway and breathing.  In fact, in ACLS, the AHA has gone as far as to suggest that endotracheal intubation may not be as important as we once thought.  While it remains the ultimate airway, the AHA suggests BVM or supraglottic airway ventilations because they reduce the interruption of compressions.

In accordance with this paradigm shift, the AHA has changed ABC to CAB in the event of cardiac arrest.  Unfortunately, though, some healthcare providers have incorrectly interpreted this change in cardiac arrest to be a change that applies to every other medical call.  Some are under the impression that the AHA is the governing body over prehospital and emergency care, which is simply not the case.  CAB is no doubt a revolution in cardiac arrest care but it is not meant to change the way we approach our "normal" patients.

Here is a short list of examples of when ABC vs CAB should be used

ABC

Overdose
Trauma
Altered mental status
Diabetic emergencies
Respiratory failure
Airway obstruction
Respiratory Distress
CAB

Cardiac Arrest

Conclusion:-

It does not have to be one or the other!  While ABC has been phased out by the AHA, it still is the de facto initial assessment used in every non-cardiac arrest call.  CAB, on the other hand, is now being used during cardiac arrest to remind practitioners and laypeople of the importance of compressions.  In general, it is not useful to confine yourself to one ideology "because they say so."  It is much more productive to understand each approach and use critical thinking to choose the best route for your patient. 

That's all
-Upasana Y. :)

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