CAUSES OF CARDIAC ARREST

SUMMARY

"6 Hs and Ts" is the name for a mnemonic used to aid in remembering the possible treatable or reversible causes of cardiac arrest.

Hs
1. Hypovolemia - A lack of blood volume
2. Hypoxia - A lack of oxygen
3. Hypothermia - A low core body temperature
4. Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia - Both excess and inadequate potassium can be life-threatening.
5. Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia - Low or high blood glucose
6. Hydrogen ions (Acidosis) - An abnormal pH in the body

Ts
1. Tablets or Toxins
2. Traumatic cardiac arrest
3. Thrombosis (Myocardial infarction) - Heart attack
4. Thromboembolism (Pulmonary embolism) - A blood clot in the lung

5. Cardiac Tamponade - Fluid building around the heart
6. Tension pneumothorax - A collapsed lung

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].