advanced cardiac life support

advanced cardiac life support

A constellation of clinical interventions for the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke and other life-threatening medical (non-traumatic) emergencies, which are beyond basic life-support skills and knowledge. ACLS entails airway management, accessing veins, interpretation of ECG/EKGs, application of emergency pharmacology and early defibrillation with automated external defibrillators.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

See ACLS.

ad·vanced car·di·ac life sup·port

(ACLS) (ăd-vanst' kahr'dē-ak līf sŭ-pōrt')

Definitive emergency medical care that includes defibrillation, airway management, and use of drugs and medications. Usually begun by emergency medical technicians who do intubation and defibrillation at the direction of a doctor or nurse. Continues through various modalities until the patient arrives at the trauma center.
Compare: basic life support

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

A training course in resuscitation techniques for health care providers offered by the American Heart Association.

See: life support for illus.

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ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT: Mannequin used for training

advanced cardiac life support

Abbreviation: ACLS

ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT: Mannequin used for training

1. The resuscitation of dying patients. ACLS involves management of the airway, reestablishment of breathing, and the restoration of spontaneous heart rhythm, blood pressure, and organ perfusion. It begins with the recognition of cardiac or respiratory emergencies, and includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, endotracheal intubation, oxygenation and ventilation, medications for restoring normal cardiac rhythms and cardiac output, cardiac pacing (when needed), and post-resuscitation care. It may begin in the out-of-hospital setting or take place in the hospital. See: illustration

2. See: Advanced Cardiac Life Support

See: basic cardiac life support; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; emergency cardiac care

See also: life support