What is a possible reversible cause of cardiac arrest in a patient who presents with acute chest pain?

What is a possible reversible cause of cardiac arrest in a patient who presents with acute chest pain?

• A. Myocardial Infarction
• B. Atrial Fibrillation
• C. Tension Pneumothorax
• D. Cardiac Tamponade

Answer: (C)

A tension pneumothorax is a possible reversible cause of cardiac arrest, especially in a patient presenting with acute chest pain. In this condition, air enters the pleural space and creates increasing pressure that can collapse the lung on the affected side and push the mediastinal structures, including the heart, toward the opposite side. This leads to impaired venous return to the heart, decreased cardiac output, and ultimately, cardiac arrest if not promptly treated. Tension pneumothorax can develop rapidly, especially following trauma or in patients with underlying lung disease, and it can often present with acute chest pain as part of its symptomatology. Recognizing this condition and initiating immediate intervention, such as needle decompression followed by chest tube placement, is critical to reversing cardiac arrest caused by this condition. Other options like myocardial infarction and cardiac tamponade can lead to cardiac arrest as well but are not traditionally classified as easily reversible causes compared to tension pneumothorax, which can be rapidly resolved with appropriate intervention. Atrial fibrillation may cause hemodynamic instability but is typically a chronic issue rather than an immediate reversible cause of cardiac arrest in this context. Therefore, tension pneumothorax stands out as a clear and acute reversible cause linked to both

A tension pneumothorax is a possible reversible cause of cardiac arrest, especially in a patient presenting with acute chest pain. In this condition, air enters the pleural space and creates increasing pressure that can collapse the lung on the affected side and push the mediastinal structures, including the heart, toward the opposite side. This leads to impaired venous return to the heart, decreased cardiac output, and ultimately, cardiac arrest if not promptly treated.

Tension pneumothorax can develop rapidly, especially following trauma or in patients with underlying lung disease, and it can often present with acute chest pain as part of its symptomatology. Recognizing this condition and initiating immediate intervention, such as needle decompression followed by chest tube placement, is critical to reversing cardiac arrest caused by this condition.

Other options like myocardial infarction and cardiac tamponade can lead to cardiac arrest as well but are not traditionally classified as easily reversible causes compared to tension pneumothorax, which can be rapidly resolved with appropriate intervention. Atrial fibrillation may cause hemodynamic instability but is typically a chronic issue rather than an immediate reversible cause of cardiac arrest in this context. Therefore, tension pneumothorax stands out as a clear and acute reversible cause linked to both