Free PALS Tachycardia Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which tachyarrhythmia is most likely to impair a baby's cardiovascular health during infancy?

Accepted Answer

Supraventricular tachycardia

Answer

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common symptomatic tachyarrhythmia in infants and children. While sinus tachycardia is often a physiological response, sustained SVT can significantly impair a baby's cardiovascular health. This is because the rapid heart rate reduces ventricular filling time and cardiac output, potentially leading to heart failure if untreated for an extended period.

Question 2

Which of these imbalances in electrolytes wouldn't cause ventricular tachycardia?

Accepted Answer

Hyponatremia

Answer

Ventricular tachycardia can be caused by several electrolyte imbalances that affect myocardial excitability and repolarization, such as hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia. Hyponatremia, which is a low sodium level, primarily affects neurological function and fluid balance. It is not typically a direct cause of ventricular tachycardia.

Question 3

What is the typical duration of the QRS in pediatric patients?

Accepted Answer

Less than or equal to 0.09 seconds

Answer

In pediatric patients, the normal duration of the QRS complex is typically less than or equal to 0.09 seconds. A wider QRS complex (greater than 0.09 seconds) suggests a ventricular conduction delay or a ventricular origin of the rhythm. This measurement is a crucial diagnostic indicator in PALS for identifying different types of arrhythmias.

Question 4

If untreated tachyarrhythmias go untreated for an extended length of time, they may eventually result in congestive heart failure (CHF). Of the following, which one would not be a marker of CHF in infancy?

Accepted Answer

Sunken fontanel

Answer

Poor feeding, rapid breathing (tachypnea), and irritability are common signs of congestive heart failure (CHF) in infants, reflecting increased metabolic demand and respiratory distress. A sunken fontanel, however, is a sign of dehydration, indicating a decrease in intracranial pressure and fluid volume, rather than a direct symptom of CHF.

Question 5

Tachyarrhythmias can result in a substantial reduction in cardiac perfusion. What cardiovascular component's shorter duration is the cause of these perfusion changes?

Accepted Answer

Diastole

Answer

Tachyarrhythmias significantly shorten the duration of diastole, which is the phase when the ventricles relax and fill with blood. This reduced filling time leads to decreased ventricular preload and subsequently a substantial reduction in cardiac output. Consequently, coronary perfusion is impaired, compromising the heart's ability to supply blood to the body and itself.

PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Practice Test

PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support Practice Test

Free PALS Tachycardia Questions and Answers