Arrest · Critical
Pulseless Electrical Activity
● Live · lead II25 mm/s · 10 mm/mV
II
10-second rhythm strip · count the boxes
RateAny
RegularityAny organized rhythm
P wavesMay be present
PR intervalAny
QRSAny; often slow and wide in late PEA
Key features
- Organized electrical activity on the monitor, but NO palpable pulse
- Narrow, fast PEA suggests a mechanical cause (tamponade, tension PTX, PE, hypovolemia)
- Wide, slow PEA suggests a metabolic cause (hyperK, acidosis, toxins)