What is the Difference Between Asystole and PEA

The key difference between asystole and PEA is that asystole is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating entirely, while PEA is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating to some extent but not entirely.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating or stops pumping suddenly and unexpectedly. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and many vital organs. Normally, cardiac arrest is caused by certain types of arrhythmias that prevent the heart from pumping blood. Asystole and PEA are two different types of cardiac arrest.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Asystole
3. What is PEA
4. Similarities – Asystole and PEA
5. Asystole vs PEA in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Asystole vs PEA

What is Asystole?

Asystole is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating or pumping blood entirely. Asystole can make people pass out. Asystole can also cause individuals to lose consciousness and result in cessation of breathing, or individuals may only experience gasping breaths. Without immediate CPR or medical intervention, this condition is going to be deadly within minutes. Normally, an electrical current travels through the heart with each heartbeat. An electrocardiogram’s wave (EKG’s wave) shows the strength of the current and how it moves through the heart. There is no detectable electrical activity in asystole. Therefore, this condition is often called a flat line.

The common causes of asystole include blood loss, low oxygen levels, electrolyte problems, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, irregular heart rhythms, trauma, electrocution, and toxins (prescription medications or recreational drugs). Moreover, the symptoms of this condition may include sudden collapse with loss of consciousness, loss of movement, no pulse, lightheadedness, vision changes, general weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea.

Asystole can be diagnosed through physical evaluation and electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Furthermore, treatment options for asystole may include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), medications like epinephrine or adrenalin, and managing underlying problems such as electrolyte imbalance or hypothermia.

What is PEA?

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating to some extent but not entirely. In PEA, there is still a detectable electrical activity, though the heart stops beating to some extent. If it is not managed quickly, PEA may cause sudden cardiac death within minutes. There are two forms of PEA: pseudo and true PEA. In pseudo-PEA, the electrical activity in the heart does cause the heart muscle to squeeze very weakly. On the other hand, in true PEA, the heart has electrical activity, but the heart muscle doesn’t react to it. PEA can be caused by heart problems, blood loss, low oxygen level, dehydration, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, irregular heart rhythms, hypothermia, trauma, air, blood, or fluid-filling areas inside the chest, and toxic effects (drugs). Moreover, the signs and symptoms of this condition may include loss of consciousness, stopping breathing, and general weakness.

PEA can be diagnosed through physical examination, electrocardiography (ECG/EKG), examining the airway for obstruction, observing the chest for respiratory movement, and feeling the pulse for 10 seconds. Furthermore, treatment options for PEA may include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), medications like epinephrine and atropine, and managing underlying problems such as blood loss and electrolyte problems.

What are the Similarities Between Asystole and PEA?

• Asystole and PEA are two different types of cardiac arrest.
• Both conditions can lead to death if not managed properly.
• Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
• These conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and electrocardiogram.
• They can be treated through CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

What is the Difference Between Asystole and PEA?

In asystole, the heart stops beating entirely, while in PEA, the heart stops beating to some extent but not entirely. Thus, this is the key difference between asystole and PEA. Furthermore, in asystole, there is no electrical activity in the heart, whereas in PEA, there is still electrical activity in the heart.

The below infographic presents the differences between asystole and PEA in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Asystole vs PEA

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating or stops pumping blood suddenly and unexpectedly. Asystole and PEA are two different types of cardiac arrest. Both these conditions are life-threatening and can lead to death if not managed immediately. However, asystole is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating entirely. PEA is a type of cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating to some extent but not entirely. So, this summarizes the difference between asystole and PEA.

Reference:

1. “Asystole: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): Causes and Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Asystole11” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “2024 Cardiac Arrhythmias” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia