OVERVIEW:

Cardiac diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. In Pakistan more than 50% of deaths in the adult population are due to Cardiovascular Diseases and about 30% of all deaths are due to cardiovascular causes.

Most of the patients with heart diseases, when admitted to hospital lose their lives within the first hour of onset of symptoms. About 90% of these deaths are due to sudden cardiac arrest secondary to ventricular fibrillation.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support program has been developed to enhance the skills of the attending doctors in emergencies, treating the victims of cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary diseases. It helps to recognize ventricular fibrillation and other life-threatening arrhythmias so as to enable to the plan of adequate treatment strategies according to AHA 2020 Guidelines.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest.
• Recognition and early management of arrhythmic conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia, Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation, Asystole, Pulseless Electrical Activity, Acute Coronary Syndromes, AV Blocks, Unstable/stable Tachycardia, Acute Ischemic Stroke.
• Related pharmacology.
• Given a patient situation, perform competently as a Team Leader for simulated cardiac arrest, physically demonstrating the delivery of all electrical interventions.

ELIGIBILITY:

For healthcare professionals such as general physicians, family healthcare providers, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and other professionals who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient, the pre-emergencies, emergencies out or in the hospital.

COURSE DURATION AND MATERIAL:

• 16 HOURS.
• ACLS hand book, ACLS card and a pretest is provided before the course.
• Complete part 1of the pretest and then part 2 course work before arriving at the venue.
• Review the ACLS rhythm and pharmacology required to successfully perform the mega code test. (Review from booklet).
• After successful completion of the course i-e, passing a written exam consisting of multiple choice questions and viva with a minimum 80% score, an ACLS certificate and a provider card is issued.

VALIDITY:

• 2 YEARS