Asystole - Causes, Symptom And Treatment of Asystole

What is Asystole?

Asystole is a state of no cardiac electrical activity, hence no contractions of the myocardium and no cardiac output or blood flow. Asystole or bradyasystole follows untreated VF and commonly occurs after unsuccessful attempts at defibrillation.

Causes of Asystole

Asystole is usually caused by ventricular fibrillation. Primary asystole develops when cellular metabolic functions are no longer intact and an electrical impulse cannot be generated. With severe ischemia, pacemaker cells cannot transport the ions necessary to effect the transmembrane action potential. Implantable pacemaker failure may also be a cause of primary asystole.

Treatment of Asystole

There are no specific treatment for asystole. Primary asystole may be prevented by the appropriate use of a permanent pacemaker in those patients who have high-grade heart block or sinus arrest.The only 2 drugs recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) for adults in asystole are epinephrine and atropine.Transcutaneous pacing (TCP), even when used immediately, has not altered meaningful survival (ie, functional lifestyle) significantly. Transcutaneous pacing (TCP), even when used immediately, has not altered meaningful survival significantly.