EDAIC Emergency Medicine 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient presents with anaphylactic shock. Which vasopressor is the first-line treatment?
- Norepinephrine
- Epinephrine (Correct answer)
- Vasopressin
- Dopamine
Correct answer: Epinephrine
Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis due to its combined alpha and beta adrenergic effects.
Question 2: In a patient with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, what is the most appropriate initial oxygen therapy?
- Nasal cannula at 2L/min
- Venturi mask at 28%
- 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask (Correct answer)
- Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)
Correct answer: 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask reduces the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin from ~5 hours to ~60-90 minutes.
Question 3: Which ECG finding is most characteristic of hyperkalemia requiring immediate treatment?
- Peaked T waves
- Prolonged PR interval
- Sine wave pattern (Correct answer)
- U waves
Correct answer: Sine wave pattern
A sine wave pattern on ECG indicates severe hyperkalemia with imminent risk of ventricular fibrillation and requires emergency treatment.
Question 4: A patient with acute severe asthma fails to respond to bronchodilators and steroids. What adjunct therapy should be considered next?
- Aminophylline
- Magnesium sulfate IV (Correct answer)
- Ketamine infusion
- Heliox
Correct answer: Magnesium sulfate IV
IV magnesium sulfate causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and is recommended by guidelines for acute severe asthma not responding to initial treatment.
Question 5: In traumatic cardiac arrest, which reversible cause should be addressed before all others?
- Hypothermia
- Tension pneumothorax (Correct answer)
- Hypovolemia
- Cardiac tamponade
Correct answer: Tension pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax is the most immediately correctable cause of traumatic cardiac arrest and bilateral needle decompression should be performed first.
Question 6: What is the recommended target mean arterial pressure (MAP) for initial resuscitation in septic shock per Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines?
- 55-60 mmHg
- 65 mmHg or higher (Correct answer)
- 70-75 mmHg
- 80 mmHg or higher
Correct answer: 65 mmHg or higher
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends an initial MAP target of ≥65 mmHg in septic shock adults receiving vasopressors.
Question 7: A patient presents with acute angle-closure glaucoma. Which drug class should be avoided?
- Beta-blockers
- Anticholinergics (Correct answer)
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
- Alpha-2 agonists
Correct answer: Anticholinergics
Anticholinergic drugs cause pupillary dilation which can precipitate or worsen acute angle-closure glaucoma by blocking aqueous humor drainage.
EDAIC Emergency Medicine 2
A patient presents with anaphylactic shock.
Which vasopressor is the first-line treatment?