After delivering a shock with the AED during cardiac arrest, what is the next step?

After delivering a shock with the AED during a cardiac arrest, the immediate next step should be to continue high-quality chest compressions. This is crucial for several reasons.

First, after a shock is delivered, the patient's heart rhythm is often still unstable, and immediate compressions help maintain blood circulation to vital organs until a more stable heart rhythm is restored. The compressions are essential to ensure that oxygenated blood reaches the brain and other critical areas, which can minimize damage and increase the chances of survival.

Furthermore, the guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use emphasize the importance of minimizing interruptions to chest compressions. Therefore, focusing on continuous compressions helps improve outcomes for the patient.

In addition, checking the patient’s pulse after a shock can lead to unnecessary pauses in the resuscitation efforts, which are detrimental to the patient. Administering oxygen is also not prioritized immediately in this phase, as chest compressions need to take precedence to ensure adequate perfusion. Waiting for the AED to analyze again should only occur after two minutes of continuous CPR, making it less appropriate immediately following a shock.