ABSTRACT
The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) surveys build on basic life support (BLS), incorporating cardiac rhythm interpretation and medications to treat various cardiac dysrhythmias. While the BLS survey focuses primarily on high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the ACLS survey incorporates a differential diagnosis and applying advanced resuscitation techniques. This chapter reviews current ACLS guidelines for the nonpregnant patient, and describes critical steps and actions of the ACLS survey, as applied to a pregnant patient. ACLS follows the BLS survey and focuses on supporting a patient’s circulation and ventilation. The ALS survey can be seen, which includes various assessments such as airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure, as well as the appropriate action. There are several important changes and additions to ACLS that are critical to achieving ROSC during an maternal cardiac arrest.
