Electromechanical Dissociation

Electromechanical Dissociation General Information

Electromechanical Dissociation, a medical condition that is also commonly abbreviated as EMD is synonym to pulseless electrical activity (generally abbreviated as PEA). As you may easily deduct from the disorder’s name, patients who are suffering from this medical condition present a rhythm abnormality of their heart. In such clinical cases, although the heart presents electrical activity, it does not cope with its pump function (contractility). For this reason, the patient does not have blood pressure or pulse. The heart of a healthy patient is stimulated by special impulses of an electric form. The impulses should be able to initiate a normal heartbeat and to properly coordinate the heart’s pump function (in other words, the contraction of the organ’s chambers). However, in the case of patients who are suffering from Electromechanical Dissociation, although the heart receives a proper electrical impulse, it does not contract. 

EMD (PEA) is a very severe (and often fatal) medical condition that can be detected with the help of an ECG (electrocardiogram). The true cause of this medical condition (Electromechanical Dissociation) is the presence of other severe clinical disorders. The most common of them are: rupture of the muscle of the heart; low body temperature (hypothermia); collapse of the patient’s lung due to pressure (tension pneumothorax); blood clots that form in the patient’s lung(s) (pulmonary embolism); cardiac tamponade; a severe form of hypovolemia; severe hypoxia, and so on. Studies have shown that female patients are more prone to developing PEA than male patients. The reason for this sex predilection has not been clearly determined. However, scientists suspect that it is related to various etiologies of cardiac arrest. Most patients develop this medical condition in their 70s.

Electromechanical Dissociation Symptoms

Electromechanical Dissociation Treatment

As we have already stated, EMD is a very dangerous medical condition with lethal effects unless the reversible causes that have lead to the appearance of this clinical condition are determined and treated in due time. Immediate access to a fully equipped emergency room is vital for the patient’s life. The individual who is suffering from Electromechanical Dissociation must be examined at once for some basic symptoms and / or signs that could point to the reversible causes of his or her heart condition. For example, while the measurement of the individual’s rectal temperature will show whether hypothermia is the cause of EMD, the unilateral absence of breath and / or tracheal shift will identify the presence of another condition: tension pneumothorax.

The average therapy for patients who are suffering from Electromechanical Dissociation (EMD) is known to follow the guidelines of ACLS (an abbreviation that stands for Advanced Cardiac Life Support). The basic life support that the patient should be immediately granted starts with the well known (but effective) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It is a commonly known fact that a proper CPR should follow the ABC set of rules. The physicians must first establish a proper airway in order to provide the patient with oxygen. The next step is ventilation, when the individual must be allowed to Breathe. After this, the clinical professionals must re-establish the patient’s Circulation that will allow IV (intravenous medicines) or fluids to be administered to the patient (this is very important in the attempt to support and maintain the patient’s blood pressure). After this, the therapy for Electromechanical Dissociation must be directed towards the true causes of EMD. For this reason, the therapy for PEA consists of various treatment options that depend on the cause that has triggered the heart condition.

Some patients require a surgical procedure that involves the insertion of chest tubes that should be able to ease the tension pneumothorax, while other individuals need another type of surgical approach: the insertion of a needle into the sac that is known to surround the patient’s heart is an effective way of getting rid of the extra fluid in the case of cardiac tamponade. The therapy for patients who suffer from severe hypovolemia is a simpler, as it consists of vigorous hydration. In the case of pulmonary embolism, the patient must be administered special medicines that are able to effectively dissolve the blood clots; in the most severe cases of pulmonary embolism, surgery is required. The use of pacemakers and / or defibrillators has not proven effective in the therapy of Electromechanical Dissociation. Other medicines that are commonly prescribed (suggested) by ACLS (like calcium, epinephrine, and so on) are generally ineffective. For further professional information about this medical condition, we strongly advise you to contact your personal health care provider.