II. Precautions
- These notes are NOT an official CALS program reference
- Goals of these notes was to ensure I was preparing adequately for course taken in 2017
- CALS study materials are expansive (3 volumes) and only loosely organized
- Outline below roughly covers similar material to CALS, but links are to my own colated notes from various sources
III. Definition
- Comprehensive Advanced Life Support (CALS)
- Resuscitation course targeted at rural medical providers and combines aspects of ACLS, PALS, NRP, ALSO and ATLS
- Focus on emergency skills, knowledge and equipment, effective teams and patient focused care
IV. Protocol: Universal Approach
- General Approach
- Step 1: Ready for patient arrival
- Activate team and assign roles
- Apply applicable protocols
- Review patient record in EMR if available
- Step 2: Patient arrival and situation control
- Everyone quiet while EMS gives report
- Restrain or immobilize patient as needed (e.g. Sedation in Excited Delirium)
- Step 3: Primary Survey (lead by Team Leader)
- ABC Management
- Includes Adult Resuscitation, Pediatric Resuscitation, Cardiac Arrest and CPR
- Includes Trauma Primary Survey (includes Exsanguination management)
- Emergency Airway Management
- Emergency Breathing Management
- Emergency Circulation Management
- Emergency Disability Management (AVPU, GCS)
- Emergency Exposure Management
- Initial Measures
- IV-O2-Monitor
- Vital Signs
- EKG
- Immediate interventions
- DONT Mnemonic (Dextrose, Oxygen, Naloxone, Thiamine) for Altered Level of Consciousness
- Consider Reversible Causes of Cardiopulmonary Arrest
- SAMPLE History (Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Meds, PMH, Last Meal, Events)
- Obtained as able from EMS, family or patient
- ABC Management
- Step 4: Secondary Survey and Focused Evaluations
- Trauma Secondary Survey
- See System Specific Protocols as described below
- Evaluate with serial exams, labs, imaging, diagnostics
- Step 5: Working Diagnosis, Stabilization and Disposition
- Return to Step 3 if patient decompensates or fails to improve
- Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia (e.g. Post-Cardiac Arrest Care)
- Emergency Transport (to higher level of care)
- Step 6: Team Process Review
- Debriefing as needed
V. Protocol: Cohort Specific
- Pediatric specific management
- Obstetric specific management
- Other patient specific guidelines
VI. Protocol: System Specific
- Cardiovascular Emergencies
- Ventricular Fibrillation or Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia
- Asystole or Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
- Unstable Bradycardia
- Unstable Tachycardia
- Atrial Fibrillation Acute Management
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Aortic Dissection
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Cardiogenic Shock (Acute Pulmonary Edema)
- Hypertensive Emergency
- Eye Emergencies
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies
- Neurologic Emergencies
- Psychiatric Emergencies
- Fluids, Electrolytes and Nutrition Emergencies (as well as renal emergencies)
- Infectious Emergencies
- Abdominal Emergencies
- Orthopedic Injury
- Trauma and Environmental Injuries
VII. Protocol: Skills
- See Emergency Procedure Skills
- Airway
- Breathing
- Circulation
- Disability
- Trauma
- Imaging
- Medications
- Miscellaneous
VIII. Protocol: Safety
IX. Protocol: Medications
X. Protocol: Miscellaneous (not yet covered)
- Emergency Preparedness
- Universal Approach
XI. References
- (2016 ) CALS, 14th Ed