emd and pea?

[xtinatorres]

can someone please tell me the difference between emd (electromechanical dissociation) and pea (pulseless electrical activity)? i looked online and my eyes are so tired but i can't find it anywhere.... this RN told me that there is a difference and that a lot of people don't know it and he asked me to find out and get back to him.. i see him tomorrow but i still cant find the difference... thank you!!!!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Effectively, no difference. EMD is "electromechanical dissociation" and PEA is "Pulseless Electrical Activity". PEA just refers to any electrical activity that does not produce a pulse, even if there's some cardiac contraction occurring. EMD is when the electrical conduction system works, but the rest of the myocardium does not so much as twitch.

In practice, they're treated the same. The difference is subtle but possibly important. Since the myocardium is contracting even a little in PEA, it's possible that a VAD can still be of use to increase the EF to something workable.

At least that's my understanding of the difference.

[xtinatorres]

Thank you soooo much i was going crazy thinking that there was a big difference.... this makes sense with what the RN told me... :) again thanks so much!