PEA
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Pulseless electrical activity |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
PEA stands for Pulseless electrical activity, a cardiology abbreviation.
Cardiac arrest rhythm in which the monitor shows organized electrical activity but no palpable pulse because the heart is not pumping effectively. It is nonshockable, so treatment is CPR, epinephrine and a search for reversible causes.
Example: Rhythm check: organized complexes at 40 without a pulse, PEA, resume compressions and give epinephrine.
Usage notes
ACLS teaches the "H's and T's" as reversible causes: hypovolemia, hypoxia, hydrogen ion (acidosis), hypo- or hyperkalemia, hypothermia, tension pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins and thrombosis (coronary or pulmonary). Bedside ultrasound helps separate true PEA, with no cardiac motion, from pseudo-PEA, in which the heart moves weakly. The older name was electromechanical dissociation (EMD).
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- PAC – Premature atrial contraction
- PAD – Peripheral artery disease
- PAF – Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- PCI – Percutaneous coronary intervention
- PCWP – Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
- PDA – Patent ductus arteriosus
- PFO – Patent foramen ovale
- PMI – Point of maximal impulse
- POBA – Plain old balloon angioplasty
- POTS – Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
- PPM – Permanent pacemaker
- PS – Pulmonic stenosis
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.