Asystole
Asystole (pronounced: a-sis-toh-lee) is a medical term that refers to a state of no cardiac electrical activity, resulting in no cardiac output and therefore no pulse. This condition is also commonly referred to as a "flatline".
Etymology
The term "asystole" is derived from the Greek words "a-", meaning "without", and "systole", meaning "contraction".
Definition
Asystole is a cardiac arrest rhythm with no discernible electrical activity on the ECG. It is a lethal condition characterized by the absence of both electrical and mechanical activity of the heart.
Causes
Asystole can be caused by a number of factors, including severe cardiac disease, significant electrolyte abnormalities, or a profound hypoxia. It can also be a result of a cardiac arrest.
Treatment
The primary treatment for asystole is CPR, along with administration of intravenous epinephrine and consideration of possible reversible causes.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Asystole
- Wikipedia's article - Asystole
This MedicineGPT article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski