Traumatic circulatory arrest

In non-trauma patients, cardiac arrest is usually the result of a fatal dysrhythmia or the end result of hypoxia. In trauma patients, hypovolemia, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, or massive head trauma are more common cause of death and is more appropriately referred to as traumatic circulatory arrest. Prior to asystole, such patients commonly experience pulseless electrical activity (PEA), rather than ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.