AEMCA Cardiovascular Emergencies 5

Question 1

A patient presents with a BP of 210/120 mmHg, severe headache, and blurred vision. This is classified as a hypertensive:

Accepted Answer

Emergency with end-organ damage

Answer

Hypertensive emergency is defined by severely elevated BP with acute end-organ damage (neurological symptoms here), requiring IV antihypertensive therapy.

Question 2

Which ECG finding differentiates Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome from other causes of SVT?

Accepted Answer

Short PR interval and delta wave

Answer

WPW is characterized by a short PR interval (<120 ms) and slurred upstroke of the QRS (delta wave) due to accessory pathway pre-excitation.

Question 3

A patient is found in cardiac arrest. The first responder has been performing CPR for 8 minutes. The monitor shows fine ventricular fibrillation. What is the MOST appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately deliver a defibrillation shock

Answer

Fine VF is still a shockable rhythm and should be defibrillated immediately; CPR has already been ongoing and a perfusing rhythm may be restored with defibrillation.

Question 4

ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF with reciprocal changes in leads I and aVL indicates an MI in which cardiac territory?

Accepted Answer

Inferior wall

Answer

Leads II, III, and aVF face the inferior wall of the left ventricle, so ST elevation in these leads with lateral reciprocal changes indicates an inferior MI.

Question 5

A patient taking warfarin presents with sudden severe tearing chest pain radiating to the back. BP is 190/100 in the right arm and 150/85 in the left arm. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Aortic dissection

Answer

Aortic dissection classically presents with tearing back pain and a blood pressure differential between arms due to the dissection flap occluding the subclavian artery.

AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Practice Test

AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Practice Test

AEMCA Cardiovascular Emergencies 5