{"id":476,"date":"2020-08-07T15:51:40","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T15:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.proacls.com\/wiki\/?p=476"},"modified":"2020-08-11T17:54:24","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T17:54:24","slug":"the-hs-and-ts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.proacls.com\/wiki\/acls\/the-hs-and-ts\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hs and Ts"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are the Hs and Ts?<\/h2>\n

The Hs and Ts are a mnemonic aid used to remember the possible reversible causes of cardiac arrest. A variety of disease processes can lead to cardiac arrest. However, they usually boil down to one or more of the Hs and Ts that will be outline below.<\/p>\n

The Hs and Ts are just one small part of a greater systematic approach to patient assessment. This systematic approach can be summed up as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. BLS Assessment<\/li>\n
  2. Primary Assessment (A, B, C, D, and E)<\/li>\n
  3. Secondary Assessment (SAMPLE, Hs and Ts)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As you can see above, the Hs and Ts are part of an ACLS provider’s secondary assessment. A secondary assessment in ACLS is the process of differentiating between two or more conditions that share similar signs and symptoms. This includes a focused medical history, as well as thoroughly searching through the Hs and Ts for any intriguing underlying causes that may have contributed to the patient\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n

    In a nutshell, the Hs and Ts help healthcare providers make sure they aren\u2019t overlooking any likely or dangerous possibilities. The Hs and Ts help create a road map for ACLS providers as they attempt to find possible diagnoses and the ensuing interventions and treatment options for their patients.<\/p>\n

    The Hs and Ts are a tried and true reminder that can help ACLS providers rule out some possibilities and also confirm other possibilities.<\/p>\n

    While the Hs and Ts are part of a healthcare provider’s secondary assessment, there are a few specific conditions or scenarios in which they could be more valuable. These include:<\/p>\n