Agonal breathing — the slow, irregular gasping that occurs in nearly half of all cardiac arrests — is one of the most dangerous misunderstood signs in emergency medicine. When bystanders and providers mistake these gasps for normal breathing, CPR is delayed and lives are lost.
ACLS skills begin to decay within months of training — and by the time recertification arrives two years later, significant gaps in compression quality, algorithm recall, and team communication can undermine real-code performance. This article explains the science behind skills decay and provides a practical, evidence-based framework for staying sharp year-round.
Double sequential external defibrillation (DSED) has emerged as a clinically promising technique for refractory ventricular fibrillation — the persistent VF that fails to convert after three or more standard defibrillation attempts. The landmark DOSE-VF trial demonstrated survival to hospital discharge of 30% with DSED versus 13% with standard defibrillation, nearly doubling survival probability for a historically high-mortality population.
Go at your own pace. Schedule the exam at your convenience. Manage your certification process from the convenience of your home or workspace. Achieving certification has never been this convenient.
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