Post-Resuscitation Care & Recovery Flashcards
7 cards from real ECC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Post-Resuscitation Care & Recovery flashcards as text
Following ROSC, a patient has an initial rhythm of sinus bradycardia at 38 bpm and systolic BP of 70 mmHg. What is the BEST initial intervention?
Answer: IV atropine and prepare for transcutaneous pacing if no response
Symptomatic bradycardia post-ROSC with hemodynamic instability is treated with atropine first, with transcutaneous pacing as backup if atropine fails.
Which neurological examination finding at 72 hours post-cardiac arrest carries the LOWEST false-positive rate for poor prognosis?
Answer: Absent corneal AND pupillary reflexes bilaterally
The combination of absent corneal and pupillary reflexes bilaterally at 72 hours provides the highest specificity (lowest false-positive rate) for poor neurological outcome.
A post-resuscitation patient develops acute kidney injury with urine output <0.5 mL/kg/hr for 6 hours. Which action is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Optimize hemodynamics and avoid nephrotoxic agents
AKI post-arrest is primarily managed by optimizing perfusion and avoiding nephrotoxins; RRT is reserved for refractory cases meeting established criteria.
What is the recommended duration of targeted temperature management (maintaining normothermia/preventing fever) after cardiac arrest?
Answer: At least 72 hours after ROSC
Current evidence supports maintaining temperature control and fever prevention for at least 72 hours post-ROSC to minimize secondary brain injury.
Which finding on diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) performed 2–5 days post-cardiac arrest indicates severe anoxic brain injury?
Answer: Extensive restricted diffusion in the cortex and deep gray nuclei
Extensive cortical and deep gray matter restricted diffusion on DWI represents widespread cytotoxic edema from global ischemia and strongly predicts poor outcome.
A post-cardiac arrest patient's family asks about cognitive outcomes. What is the MOST accurate statement?
Answer: Many survivors experience cognitive deficits including memory and attention problems
Studies show up to 50–75% of cardiac arrest survivors experience some degree of cognitive impairment, most commonly affecting memory, attention, and executive function.
Post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction typically resolves within what time frame if the patient survives?
Answer: 24–72 hours
Post-resuscitation myocardial stunning is typically transient and resolves within 24–72 hours with supportive hemodynamic management.