Editing Advanced cardiac life support (section)

== Overview ==
Advanced cardiac life support refers to a set of guidelines used by medical providers to treat life-threatening cardiovascular conditions. These life-threatening conditions range from dangerous arrhythmias to cardiac arrest. ACLS algorithms frequently address at least five different aspects of peri-cardiac arrest care: Airway management, ventilation, CPR compressions (continued from BLS), defibrillation, and medications. Due to the seriousness of the diseases treated, the paucity of data known about most ACLS patients, and the need for multiple, rapid, simultaneous treatments, ACLS is executed as a standardized, algorithmic set of treatments. Successful ACLS treatment starts with diagnosis of the correct [[Electrocardiography|EKG]] rhythm causing the arrest. Common cardiac arrest rhythms covered by ACLS guidelines include: [[ventricular tachycardia]], [[ventricular fibrillation]], [[Pulseless electrical activity|Pulseless Electrical Activity]], and [[asystole]]. Dangerous, non-arrest rhythms typically covered includes: [[Supraventricular tachycardia|narrow]]- and wide-complex [[tachycardia]]s, [[Torsades de pointes|torsades de pointe]], [[atrial fibrillation]]/[[Atrial flutter|flutter]] with rapid ventricular response, and [[bradycardia]].<ref name=":0" />

Successful ACLS treatment generally requires a team of trained individuals. Common team roles include: Leader, back-up leader, 2 CPR performers, an airway/respiratory specialist, an IV access and medication administration specialist, a monitor/ defibrillator attendant, a pharmacist, a lab member to send samples, and a recorder to document the treatment.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Prince|first1=Cynthia R.|last2=Hines|first2=Elizabeth J.|last3=Chyou|first3=Po-Huang|last4=Heegeman|first4=David J.|date=September 2014|title=Finding the Key to a Better Code: Code Team Restructure to Improve Performance and Outcomes|journal=Clinical Medicine & Research|volume=12|issue=1–2|pages=47–57|doi=10.3121/cmr.2014.1201|issn=1539-4182|pmc=4453307|pmid=24667218}}</ref> For in-hospital events, these members are frequently physicians, mid-level providers, nurses and allied health providers; while for out-of-hospital events, these teams are usually composed of a small number of EMTs and paramedics.