Pulseless electrical activity causes

	Pulseless electrical activity Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Pulseless electrical activity is a life-threatening condition and must be treated as such irrespective of the causes. Life-threatening conditions can result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Common causes of PEA include preceding respiratory failure in 40% to 50% of cases, and hypovolemia. The common causes of PEA can be remembered using the mnemonic "The Hs and Ts".^[1]^[2]^[3]

Hypovolemia
Hypoxia
Hydrogen ions (Acidosis)
Hypothermia
Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia
Hypoglycemia
Tablets or Toxins (Drug overdose) such as beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or calcium channel blockers
Tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
Thrombosis (Myocardial infarction)
Thrombosis (Pulmonary embolism)
Trauma (Hypovolemia from blood loss)

As noted by repeated balloon inflations in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, transient occlusion of the coronary artery does not cause PEA.

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning	No underlying causes
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	No underlying causes
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Congenital coronary artery anomalies
Myocarditis
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Intracranial hemorrhage
Near-drowning
Central airway obstruction

* Hypovolemia
Hypoxia
Hydrogen ions (Acidosis)
Hypothermia
Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia
Hypoglycemia
Tablets or Toxins (Drug overdose) such as beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or calcium channel blockers
Tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
Thrombosis (Myocardial infarction)
Thrombosis (Pulmonary embolism)
Trauma (Hypovolemia from blood loss)

Disease C

References

↑ ACLS: Principles and Practice. p. 71-87. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-341-2.
↑ ACLS for Experienced Providers. p. 3-5. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-424-9.
↑ "2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care - Part 7.2: Management of Cardiac Arrest." Circulation 2005; 112: IV-58 - IV-66.

Template:WH Template:WS

[ACLS_2003_H_T-1] ACLS: Principles and Practice. p. 71-87. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-341-2.

[ACLS_2003_EP_HT-2] ACLS for Experienced Providers. p. 3-5. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-424-9.

[ECC_2005_7.2-3] "2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care - Part 7.2: Management of Cardiac Arrest." Circulation 2005; 112: IV-58 - IV-66.

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