What should you do in addition to following cardiac protocol for a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest?

In a pregnant patient experiencing cardiac arrest, following the established cardiac protocol is essential, but there is an additional step that significantly improves outcomes for both the mother and the fetus: applying continuous manual displacement of the uterus. This technique helps relieve pressure from the inferior vena cava, which can become compressed due to the weight of the pregnant uterus when the patient is supine. When this compression occurs, it can impair venous return to the heart and reduce cardiac output, further compromising the mother's hemodynamic status during resuscitation.

By manually displacing the uterus to the left—often referred to as the left lateral tilt—you allow for better blood flow back to the heart, which is critical in optimizing the effectiveness of CPR and increasing the chances of successful resuscitation. This intervention is especially vital in the later stages of pregnancy when the uterus is large enough to cause significant vascular compression.

Other options, while they may be relevant in certain contexts, do not specifically address the unique needs of a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest as effectively as uterine displacement. For example, performing CPR on the patient's back may not account for the anatomical changes during pregnancy or alleviate the compression of major vessels. Similarly, IV fluid administration, while helpful, does not directly address the immediate mechanical