Pulseless electrical activity

Pulseless Electrical Activity

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA), pronounced /pʌls.lɛs ɪˈlɛk.trɪkəl ækˈtɪvɪti/, is a clinical condition characterized by the absence of a detectable pulse in a patient who has a normal or near normal electrocardiogram (ECG).

Etymology

The term "pulseless electrical activity" is derived from the observation that a patient's heart may still have electrical activity (as evidenced by an ECG), but the heart is not effectively pumping blood, thus the patient has no pulse.

Definition

Pulseless electrical activity is defined as the absence of a detectable pulse in a patient who has a normal or near normal ECG. This condition is a type of cardiac arrest.

Causes

PEA is often caused by a profound cardiovascular insult (e.g., massive myocardial infarction, massive pulmonary embolism, or a large pericardial effusion causing cardiac tamponade).

Treatment

The treatment for PEA involves addressing the underlying cause, if known, and performing CPR. Medications such as epinephrine and vasopressin may also be used.

Prognosis

The prognosis for a patient with PEA depends on the underlying cause. If the cause can be identified and treated, the patient may recover. However, PEA often has a poor prognosis.

Related Terms

• Cardiac arrest
• Electrocardiography
• Myocardial infarction
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pericardial effusion
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Epinephrine
• Vasopressin

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Pulseless electrical activity
• Wikipedia's article - Pulseless electrical activity

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