What is the difference between Asystole and Cardiac Arrest?

Asystole is the absence of electrical activity in the heart, as evidenced by a flat line on an EKG. Cardiac arrest is a more general term for conditions where the heart is not circulating blood. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) or pulseless Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) are examples of EKG rhythms which also will produce cardiac arrest, but are not asystole. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is another catch-all where there is an otherwise survivable EKG, but no blood is circulating. This can be caused by trauma to the heart, or tremendous blood loss, among other reasons.

Edit in response to updated question:

Generally, a patient does not go from a normal sinus rhythm directly to asystole, at least I've never seen it. Yes, there is usually an abnormal rhythm evident before asystole.

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RE:

What is the difference between Asystole and Cardiac Arrest?

I understand what asystole is but how is it different from cardiac arrest? I'm not sure I understand what exactly cardiac arrest is besides that it is a state when no blood is being pumped to the heart.

1

Asystole is an electical measure of cardiac arrest. It is linked to the ECG trace rather than the physical detection of pulses. Cardiac arrest is defined as 'absent pulses'.

For example a person may be asystolic on the ECG trace (i.e flatlining) but have a palpable pulse- this might happen if the ECG machine had become unplugged!

It's important to establish true cardiac arrest by checking the pulses rather than relying on the ECG alone.

Asystole Definition

Asystolic

cardiac arrest you are basically dead.