Now written in a new conversational style, the 3rd edition of the ACLS Study Guide features unique, user-friendly, and easy to remember treatment algorithms - totally revised to reflect the 2005 emergency cardiac care guidelines. Full-color throughout, it continues to offer a complete, concise overview of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), acute coronary syndromes, and acute stroke. It also features easy-to-access information with Stop and Review quizzes in each chapter and a comprehensive pretest and posttest. New to this edition are a handy ACLS quick-reference fold-out card, a heart rate ruler, and more! In addition to being an outstanding study tool, the ACLS Study Guide, 3rd Edition, is the official text for the American Safety and Health Institute ACLS certification course. For more information on ASHI courses, call 800-246-5101 or visit www.ashinstitute.com.

• A pretest and posttest, each containing 50 questions with answers and rationales, provide readers with opportunities to check comprehension prior to and after study.
• Chapter Objectives allow readers to preview the main points in each chapter.
• Quick Review boxes throughout the chapters and Stop and Review sections at the end of the chapters test reader comprehension of the material.
• Chapters 1-8 comprise a Preparatory section to provide the foundation for the case presentations in the second section. Ten case studies present real-life clinical situations enabling the reader to make decisions based on information in the Preparatory section.
• Consistent organization of case studies include Objective, Skills to Master, Rhythms to Master, Medications to Master, Related Text Chapters, Questions, Answers, Essential Actions, and Unacceptable Actions to aide in the study and mastery of material.

Pretest

Part 1: Preparatory

Chapter 1 - The ABCDs of Emergency Cardiac Care

Chapter 2 - Airway Management: Oxygenation and Ventilation

Chapter 3 - Rhythm Recognition

Section 1: Anatomy Review and Basic Electrophysiology

Section 2: Tachydysrhythmias: Too Fast Rhythms

Section 3: Bradydysrhythmias: Too Slow Rhythms

Section 4: Cardiac Arrest: Absent/Pulseless Rhythms

Section 5: Premature Beats and Pacemaker Rhythms

Chapter 4 - Electrical Therapy

Chapter 5 - Vascular Access and Medications

Chapter 6 - Acute Coronary Syndromes

Chapter 7 - Stroke and Special Resuscitation Situations

Chapter 8 - Putting It All Together

Part 2: Case Studies

Case 1: Respiratory Arrest

Case 2: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation with an Automated External Defibrillator

Case 3: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation

Case 4: Asystole

Case 5: Pulseless Electrical Activity

Case 6: Acute Coronary Syndromes

Case 7: Symptomatic Bradycardia

Case 8: Unstable Tachycardia

Case 9: Stable Tachycardia

Case 10: Acute Ischemic Stroke

Posttest

Glossary

By Barbara Aehlert, RN, BSPA, Southwest EMS Education Inc., Phoenix, AZ and Pursley, TX, USA