Just the Facts: Protected code blue - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the emergency department during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

CJEM. 2020 Jul;22(4):431-434. doi: 10.1017/cem.2020.379.

Abstract

Emergency medical services (EMS) is called for a 65-year-old man with a 1-week history of cough, fever, and mild shortness of breath now reporting chest pain. Vitals on scene were HR 110, BP 135/90, SpO2 88% on room air. EMS arrives at the emergency department (ED). As the patient is moved to a negative pressure room, he becomes unresponsive with no palpable pulse. What next steps should be discussed in order to protect the team and achieve the best possible patient outcome?

Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiac arrest; protected code blue.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / organization & administration*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control*
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
  • Pandemics
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2