code blue meds

Nursing Students Student Assist

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could somebody please tell me the meds used in a code and why

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The first one used in pulseless cardiac arrests is usually epinephrine 1:10,000. If you do a Google search for epinephrine, you should come up with some good stuff about its actions. That will probably also take you to some good sites to find out about the other code meds.

Let us know what you find and we can fill in the gaps if you have specific questions.

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This is a powerpoint presentation that runs through a whole code blue including meds and dosages and order of administration...it's pretty cool!

http://cursa.ihmc.us/rid=1143301396187_1419700471_2402/Code%20Blue%20Procedures.pdf

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Epi: for anaphylaxis or bronchospasm 0.3-0.5mg of 1:1000 SQ or IM; inhibits histamine release, relaxes bronchial smooth muscle

for VF or PVT give 1.0mg (1:1000) IV q 3-5 minutes up to 5mg (1mg/kg);

can be given via ET and intra-cardiac (rare); increases HR, contractility & SVR

Vasopressins: 40u IVP one time dose only; increase cerebral & cardiac perfusion

Atropine: 0.5 to 1.0mg in symptomatic bradycardia; 1.0mg in asystole...repeat q 3-5 min to total of 0.04mg/kg (3mg); increase O2 (cardiac) demand; full vagolitic dose (3mg) used for asystole only. Doses shouldn't be less than 0.5mg for an adult as it may further slow rate.

Adenosine: 6mg RAPID IVP over 1-3 seconds...no response then 12mg rapid IVP; depresses AV & sinus node activity; termination of narrow complex PSVT.

Amiodarone: 300mg loading dose; if recurs then 150mg; recurrent VF/PVT; then there are the maintenence doses; prolongs action potential duration, raises VF threshold, vasodilator.

lidocaine: initial 1.0-1.5mg/kg (cardiac arrest typically 1.5mg/kg); additional 0.5-1.5mg/kg q 5-10 minutes to total of 3mg/kg. Used for ventricular arrythmias (PVCs, VT, VF); 2nd line if failure of amiodarone.

What I can think of off the top of my head.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

a code blue is called because a patient has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped. the medical personnel running the code blue follow acls guidelines and give medications according to what symptoms the patients display or what is known about the patient's condition at the time:

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Specializes in ICU.
Epi: {snipperoo}

for VF or PVT give 1.0mg (1:1000) IV q 3-5 minutes up to 5mg (1mg/kg);

can be given via ET and intra-cardiac (rare); increases HR, contractility & SVR

Ummm...did you perhaps mean 1:10,000 for IV epi?

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DOH!!! For PVT or VF, yes I did mean 1:10000!

Thanks for catching that!

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Thank you all.

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You should totally take an ACLS class if you really want to learn about this.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

:yeahthat:

I paid to take ACLS while I was still in school -- and it was a deciding factor in me getting the job I have.

Learn the EKG rhythms -- you don't push the same stuff for every code. Are they coding because they brady'd down? Overdosed and their HR's 280? VF? SVT?

And I will give you one piece of advice from the trenches -- let someone else do the chest compressions on a person with a PEG the first time you have one -- that is one nasty code, as the feeding comes shooting out around the peg, usually the peg tube opens at some point and stomach/Jevity end up all over the bed (and you), and the resp folks can't see thru the feeding to find the cords, and I've seen them get a face full of stuff. Watch how the experienced people deal with it to keep from needing a set of scrubs for the rest of the shift. Like I said, nasty.

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