Cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation are common in any ICU. But, adequately addressing additional perioperative considerations is key in the surgical ICU. In this Critical Care episode of Behind the Knife, Drs. Bankhead, Dumas, & Park will address how to approach a critically ill patient who presents with an arrythmia. Hemodynamically stable vs. unstable patients are discussed, as well as the current ACLS guidelines for management of a patient in cardiac arrest. 

Referenced Articles and Guidelines:

1. Van Gelder I, Groenveld H, Crijns H, et al. Lenient versus Strict Rate Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. NEJM 2010. 

2. Walkey A, Hogarth K, Lip G. Optimizing Atrial Fibrillation Management: From ICU and Beyond. CHEST 2015. 

3. AFFIRM Investigators. A Comparison of Rate Control and Rhythm Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. NEJM 2002. 

4. ACLS Training Center: Tachycardia with a Pulse Algorithm. https://www.acls.net/acls-tachycardia-algorithm

5. ACLS Training Center: Cardiac Arrest Algorithm. https://www.acls.net/acls-secondary-survey

6. ACLS Training Center: Acute Coronary Syndromes Algorithm. https://www.acls.net/acute-coronary-syndromes-algorithm

Please visit behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.