Pulseless Flashcards

A 55-year-old patient is in PEA arrest. The team suspects massive pulmonary embolism. Which intervention is most appropriate?

Answer: Empirical systemic thrombolysis

If PE is the suspected cause of cardiac arrest, empirical systemic thrombolysis (e.g., tPA) should be strongly considered during CPR.

Which of the following best describes the correct hand placement for external chest compressions in an adult?

Answer: Center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum

Compressions are placed at the center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum to maximize cardiac output.

A pulseless patient has a known history of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and is now in a wide-complex tachyarrhythmia. What is the ACLS treatment?

Answer: Immediate unsynchronized defibrillation

Pulselessness requires immediate unsynchronized defibrillation regardless of the underlying rhythm or history.

What is the maximum acceptable pause in chest compressions for rhythm check and defibrillation during a cardiac arrest?

Answer: 10 seconds

ACLS guidelines recommend limiting all peri-shock pauses in CPR to less than 10 seconds.

Lidocaine 1–1.5 mg/kg IV is an acceptable alternative to amiodarone for which pulseless rhythm?

Answer: Ventricular fibrillation/pulseless VT

Lidocaine is an acceptable alternative antiarrhythmic to amiodarone for shock-refractory VF/pulseless VT.

A patient with no IV access is in pulseless VT. The team is preparing the IO device. Which site is preferred for adult IO access?

Answer: Proximal tibia or proximal humerus

The proximal tibia and proximal humerus are the preferred IO sites in adults during cardiac arrest when IV access cannot be established.

After ROSC is achieved, the patient's SpO2 is 96% on 100% FiO2. What should you do?

Answer: Titrate FiO2 to achieve SpO2 92–98%

Post-ROSC, oxygen should be titrated to an SpO2 of 92–98% to avoid hyperoxia-related reperfusion injury.