Resus: What It Means and Why It
Matters
Resus is a term that is commonly
used in medical settings, especially in emergency departments and intensive
care units. It is short for resuscitation, which means the act of bringing
someone back to life or restoring normal breathing and circulation after a
cardiac arrest or other life-threatening condition. Resus can also refer to the
area of a hospital where patients who need urgent and life-saving treatment are
taken, such as the resuscitation room or the trauma bay.
In this article, we will explore
the meaning of resus, how it is performed in hospitals, what courses are
available for health professionals and lay people to learn resus skills, and
why resus is important for saving lives and improving outcomes.
Outline
- Introduction:
- Resus in hospital:
- Resus courses in UK and Ireland:
- Conclusion
Resus in hospital
Resus in hospital is a complex and
dynamic process that requires teamwork, communication, leadership,
decision-making, and technical skills. It involves assessing the patient’s
condition, providing basic and advanced life support measures, identifying and
treating the underlying cause of the arrest or deterioration, monitoring the
patient’s response, and transferring the patient to an appropriate level of
care.
The equipment and personnel
involved in resus vary depending on the situation and the resources available.
However, some common elements include:
- A defibrillator: A device that delivers an electric
shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. It can be manual or
automated (AED). - A monitor: A device that displays the patient’s vital
signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, etc. - An airway adjunct: A device that helps to keep the
airway open and clear of obstructions. It can be simple (such as an
oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway) or advanced (such as an endotracheal
tube or a laryngeal mask airway). - Oxygen: A gas that is delivered to the patient via a
mask or a tube to improve oxygenation and ventilation. - Drugs: Various medications that are used to treat
cardiac arrest or other conditions that affect circulation or breathing.
They can be given intravenously (IV), intraosseously (IO), intramuscularly
(IM), subcutaneously (SC), or via other routes. - A team leader: A person who coordinates the resus
efforts, assigns roles and tasks to other team members, communicates with
them and with external services (such as ambulance or referral centre),
and makes clinical decisions based on the best available evidence. - A team member: A person who performs a specific role
or task during resus, such as chest compressions, ventilation,
defibrillation, drug administration, documentation, etc. They can be
doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, students, or other health
professionals.
The protocols and guidelines that
are followed during resus are based on the best available scientific evidence
and expert consensus. They are regularly updated by national and international
organizations that specialize in resuscitation science and education. Some
examples of these organizations are:
- Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK): The leading body for
resuscitation practice in the UK. It
produces guidelines for adult, paediatric, and newborn life support, as
well as other topics related to resuscitation1. - European Resuscitation Council (ERC): The European
body for resuscitation practice. It produces guidelines for adult, paediatric, and newborn
life support, as well as other topics related to resuscitation2. - American Heart Association (AHA): The American body
for resuscitation practice. It produces guidelines for adult, paediatric,
and newborn life support, as well as other topics related to resuscitation
Resus courses in UK and
Ireland
Resus courses are designed to teach health professionals and lay
people the skills and knowledge needed to perform resus in various settings and
scenarios. They are based on the guidelines and recommendations of the resuscitation
organizations mentioned above. They are delivered by certified instructors who
have undergone rigorous training and assessment. They are also evaluated and
updated regularly to ensure quality and relevance.
There are different types of resus courses available in the UK
and Ireland, depending on the level of complexity, target audience, and
learning objectives. Some examples of these courses are:
- ALS
(Advanced Life Support): A two-day course that teaches the theory and
practice of advanced life support for adult patients in cardiac arrest or
other life-threatening emergencies. It covers topics such as airway
management, defibrillation, arrhythmia recognition, drug therapy,
post-resuscitation care, and team leadership. It is suitable for doctors, nurses,
paramedics, and other health professionals who may be involved in resus. - ILS
(Immediate Life Support): A one-day course that teaches the basic skills
of resuscitation for adult patients who are at risk of deterioration or
cardiac arrest. It covers topics such as airway management, basic life
support, defibrillation, oxygen therapy, and team working. It is suitable
for doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, students, and other health
professionals who may be involved in resus. - FEEL
(Focused Echocardiography in Emergency Life Support): A one-day course
that teaches the use of echocardiography (ultrasound imaging of the heart)
during resus. It covers topics such as indications, contraindications,
technique, interpretation, and integration of echocardiography findings
into clinical decision making. It is suitable for doctors who have
experience in resus and basic echocardiography skills. - EPALS
(European Paediatric Advanced Life Support): A two-day course that teaches
the theory and practice of advanced life support for paediatric patients
(from birth to puberty) in cardiac arrest or other life-threatening
emergencies. It covers topics such as airway management, defibrillation,
arrhythmia recognition, drug therapy, post-resuscitation care, and team
leadership. It is suitable for doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other
health professionals who may be involved in resus. - PILS
(Paediatric Immediate Life Support): A one-day course that teaches the
basic skills of resuscitation for paediatric patients who are at risk of
deterioration or cardiac arrest. It covers topics such as airway
management, basic life support, defibrillation, oxygen therapy, and team
working. It is suitable for doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians,
students, and other health professionals who may be involved in resus. - NLS (Newborn
Life Support): A one-day course that teaches the theory and practice of
resuscitation for newborn infants (from birth to 28 days) who are at risk
of deterioration or cardiac arrest. It covers topics such as airway
management, basic life support, defibrillation, oxygen therapy, and
post-resuscitation care. It is suitable for doctors, nurses, midwives,
paramedics, and other health professionals who may be involved in resus. - ARNI
(Advanced Resuscitation of the Newborn Infant): A two-day course that
teaches the advanced skills of resuscitation for newborn infants who
require intensive care after birth. It covers topics such as airway
management, ventilation, circulation, temperature control, fluid
management, and neonatal emergencies. It is suitable for doctors
Resus courses are designed to
teach health professionals and lay people the skills and knowledge needed to
perform resus in various settings and scenarios. They are based on the
guidelines and recommendations of the resuscitation organizations mentioned
above. They are delivered by certified instructors who have undergone rigorous
training and assessment. They are also evaluated and updated regularly to
ensure quality and relevance.
Taking a resus course can have
many benefits for the learners and their patients. Some of these benefits are:
CPD eligibility: Resus
courses can count towards the continuing professional development (CPD)
requirements of many health professions. CPD is a process of lifelong learning
that helps to maintain and improve the knowledge, skills, and performance of
health professionals. CPD can also enhance their career prospects and
satisfaction.
Recognition across countries:
Resus courses are recognized and accepted in many countries around the world,
especially in Europe and Australia. This means that learners can use their
resus certificates to work or volunteer in different settings and locations.
This can also facilitate their mobility and collaboration with other health
professionals from different backgrounds and cultures.
Confidence and competence in
resus situations: Resus courses can help learners to develop the confidence
and competence to perform resus in various situations and scenarios. Resus
courses can also help learners to cope with the stress and emotions that may
arise during resus situations. Resus courses can also help learners to improve
their teamwork, communication, leadership, decision-making, and technical
skills that are essential for effective resus.
Conclusion:
Resus is what it means
and why it matters. By learning and practicing resus skills, we can save lives
and improve outcomes for patients who suffer from cardiac arrest or other
life-threatening conditions. We can also make a difference in our own lives and
in the lives of others by being prepared and ready to help in case of an
emergency. Resus is not only a skill, but also a responsibility and a privilege
that we should embrace and cherish.
