Echocardiography during cardiopulmonary arrest: Integrative review

Abstract

Introduction: The identification of the rhythm in the care of the patient with cardiopulmonary arrest (CA), (shockable and non-shockable) is fundamental for the reversal of the condition. In this context, echocardiography (ECHO) allows real-time recognition of myocardial movement and helps to identify the potential reversible cause of CA in non-shockable rhythms such as PEA and Asystole. Objective: to present an update of the scientific evidence about the use of ECHO during CA. Method: integrative literature review, in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online database, using the descriptors "Echocardiography" and "Cardiac Arrest", with original articles published between 2019 and 2021. Results: the use of ECHO during CRP allows visualizing the movement of heart chambers and valves, blood flow and myocardial contractility, helping to identify the cardiac rhythm and, in turn, the cause of the shock. The use of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), a non-invasive method, requires pauses in chest compressions and is interfered with by external or patient-related conditions. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), in turn, does not require interruption of chest compressions and provides more reliable images, but it is a semi-invasive method. Conclusion: the use of ECHO during CA helps to identify the cause of shock, which provides adequate case management and predictive definition. Due to the non-interruption of chest compressions, the use of TEE proved to be an alternative to TTE, but with a longer learning curve and lack of studies with outcomes such as survival and prognosis.