Emergency Drugs and ACLS Flashcards

For a patient in asystole, the current AHA ACLS algorithm recommends:

Answer: CPR plus epinephrine 1 mg IV every 3 to 5 min plus identify and treat reversible causes

Asystole is treated with high-quality CPR, epinephrine, and search for reversible causes (Hs and Ts). Defibrillation is NOT indicated for asystole.

The appropriate amount of fast-acting carbohydrate for treating a conscious hypoglycemic dental patient is:

Answer: 15 to 20 g fast-acting carbohydrate, repeated in 15 minutes if needed

The 15-15 rule: administer 15 to 20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate, recheck blood glucose in 15 minutes, repeat if still below 70 mg/dL.

Albuterol (salbutamol) is used in dental emergencies for:

Answer: Acute bronchospasm in asthmatic patients

Albuterol is a beta-2 agonist bronchodilator used to relieve acute bronchospasm. It is the first-line drug for mild-to-moderate asthmatic bronchospasm.

Which drug is used in the emergency management of status epilepticus when IV access is unavailable?

Answer: Rectal diazepam or intranasal midazolam

When IV access is unavailable, rectal diazepam gel or intranasal/buccal midazolam provides effective benzodiazepine delivery for seizure termination.

The medical history and physical assessment for emergency preparedness in a dental office should be completed:

Answer: For every patient at every visit, updating the medical history

Medical history and physical evaluation should be reviewed and updated at every visit. A patient status can change significantly between appointments.

Chewable aspirin (162 to 325 mg) should be administered during a suspected acute myocardial infarction because it:

Answer: Irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation, reducing thrombus growth

Aspirin irreversibly inhibits COX-1, preventing thromboxane A2 synthesis and platelet aggregation, limiting coronary thrombus expansion.