Emergency Drugs and ACLS Flashcards

A patient under sedation develops symptomatic bradycardia with a heart rate of 35 bpm and becomes hypotensive. According to ACLS guidelines, which medication should be administered first?

Answer: Atropine

According to the ACLS algorithm for bradycardia, atropine is the first-line drug for treating symptomatic bradycardia. It works by blocking the vagus nerve's effect on the heart, which typically increases the heart rate. Epinephrine is considered a second-line treatment if atropine is ineffective. Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic for ventricular arrhythmias, and naloxone is for opioid reversal.

A patient is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with bronchospasm and hypotension. What is the correct concentration of epinephrine for initial intramuscular administration?

Answer: 1:1,000

The standard concentration of epinephrine for intramuscular (IM) injection to treat anaphylaxis is 1:1,000. The 1:10,000 concentration is typically reserved for intravenous (IV) administration during cardiac arrest. The other concentrations are too dilute for this purpose.

Which of the following drugs is a specific reversal agent for the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of benzodiazepines like midazolam and diazepam?

Answer: Flumazenil

Flumazenil is a specific benzodiazepine receptor antagonist that competitively inhibits the activity at the benzodiazepine recognition site on the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex, thereby reversing the effects of benzodiazepines. Naloxone reverses opioids, atropine treats bradycardia, and amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic.

During a procedure, a 68-year-old patient with a history of stable angina complains of sudden, crushing chest pain. The team has already administered oxygen. What is the most appropriate first-line medication to administer from the emergency kit?

Answer: Nitroglycerin

For acute anginal pain, sublingual nitroglycerin is the first-line and fastest-acting medication. It is a potent vasodilator that increases blood flow to the heart muscle, relieving ischemic pain. While aspirin is crucial in a suspected myocardial infarction, nitroglycerin provides the most immediate symptom relief for angina.

A patient goes into cardiac arrest, and the monitor shows ventricular fibrillation. An initial shock has been delivered without success. According to the ACLS pulseless arrest algorithm, what is the first drug that should be administered?

Answer: Epinephrine

In the ACLS cardiac arrest algorithm for shockable rhythms like ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT), epinephrine is the first drug to be administered after the initial shock(s). It is given to increase vasoconstriction and improve coronary and cerebral perfusion during CPR. Amiodarone or lidocaine are antiarrhythmics considered after epinephrine if VF/pVT persists.

A patient develops a mild, non-life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by urticaria (hives) and itching, with stable vital signs. Which emergency drug is most appropriate for initial management of these symptoms?

Answer: Diphenhydramine

For a mild allergic reaction manifesting as hives and itching without respiratory or cardiovascular compromise, an antihistamine like diphenhydramine is the most appropriate initial treatment. Epinephrine is reserved for severe reactions (anaphylaxis). Hydrocortisone is a steroid that may be used, but it has a slower onset of action. Albuterol is used for bronchospasm.