PQRST - a unique aide-memoire for capnography interpretation during cardiac arrest

Bård E Heradstveit; Jon-Kenneth Heltne

doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.07.008

PQRST - a unique aide-memoire for capnography interpretation during cardiac arrest

Resuscitation. 2014 Nov;85(11):1619-20. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.07.008. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Authors

Bård E Heradstveit¹, Jon-Kenneth Heltne²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: baard.heradstveit@helse-bergen.no.
² Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: jon-kenneth.heltne@helse-bergen.no.

PMID: 25063372
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.07.008

Abstract

The use of capnography is recommended during resuscitation. By implementing the mnemonic "PQRST", rescuers have a ready-made checklist to help them achieve the full potential of capnography. This approach can facilitate efforts to both reduce the hands-off time and individualize the treatment, which can lead to improved survival for our patients.

Keywords: Capnography; Cardiac arrest; Education; Mnemonic; PQRST; Survival.

MeSH terms

Capnography / methods*
Carbon Dioxide / blood
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / methods*
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / mortality
Checklist / methods
Heart Arrest / diagnosis
Heart Arrest / mortality
Heart Arrest / therapy*
Heart Massage / methods
Humans
Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation
Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
Patient Safety
Sensitivity and Specificity
Survival Analysis
Time Factors

Substances

Carbon Dioxide