ACLS Test Prep (PALS, BLS, ACLS) American Heart Association Standards Aligned | 2026/2027 Update | Questions and Correct Answers | 100% correct solutions

ACLS Test Prep (PALS, BLS, ACLS) American Heart Association Standards Aligned | 2026/2027 Update | Questions and Correct Answers | 100% correct solutions You are doing CPR on a child with symptomatic Epinephrin e bradycardia. An intravenous line is in place. What is the first drug of choice for the patient? Rationale: If oxygenation and ventilation fail to correct symptomatic bradycardia in a child, epinephrine should be given. While atropine is the recommended initial treatment choice for symptomatic bradycardia in adults, in children it is a secondary choice. Atropine is the initial treatment in children with AV block due to primary bradycardia, however. High-quality CPR for young children includes: A) Compress to a depth of at least one third of the child's chest diameter B) Compress at a rate between 100 and 120 compressions per minute C) Minimize interruptions to chest compressions D) All of the above All of the above Rationale: All of the features listed reflect high-quality CPR for pediatric patients. You are the team leader on a team resuscitating a child without a pulse or respirations. When you look at the monitor, you see a disorganized rhythm with chaotic electrical activity. This rhythm is most likely: V-Fib Rationale: The ECG waveform described is most likely ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular tachycardia would create abnormal, but regular waveforms. Asystole is "flat line" and PEA can be almost any rhythm, except asystole, ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation. The goal of the PALS team in the treatment of shock is to: A) Improve oxygen delivery B) Prevent organ injury C) Stop the progression to cardiopulmonary failure D) All of the above All of the above Rationale: These are all important goals of shock management in children. Untreated shock may lead to cardiopulmonary failure, decreased blood perfusion, decreased oxygen delivery to the tissues, and organ damage. When evaluating a child's bradycardia, it is important to All of the above consider the child's: Rationale: An abnormally slow heart rate must be evaluated in the context of the A) Baseline rate child's current condition. Is the child sleeping? What is her normal heart rate, i.e., is B) Level of activity this slow for her? Most importantly, is the bradycardia causing symptoms or is it C) Clinical condition likely to cause symptoms imminently? D) All of the above For asystole, the team should do CPR until IV or IO access is achieved. The drug of choice for asystole is: Epinephrine Rationale: Epinephrine is the drug of choice for the treatment of asystole. In school age children and infants, the two most common initial rhythms seen in pediatric cardiac arrest are: Asystole and PEA Rationale: While cardiac arrest in children is usually preceded by respiratory distress and failure, the two most common, immediate causes of cardiac arrest in children are asystole and PEA. What is the correct depth of chest compressions in an Between 2 and 2.4 inches adult? Rationale: Previous guidelines had recommended a depth of at least 2 inches. This was based on the concept that rescuers tend to be too shallow, rather than too deep with their compressions. However, pressing too deeply is not good, either. So the recommendation is 2 to 2.4 inches or 5 to 6 centimeters. A victim probably has a neck injury. What is the correct way to open the airway? Jaw thrust Rationale: A head tilt-chin lift is effective in opening the patient's airway, but may put stress on an unstable cervical spine. In a suspected neck injury, a jaw thrust without bending the victim's neck is preferable. How long should a pulse check last? No more than 10 seconds Rationale: If you cannot feel a pulse, how long do you spend making sure you didn't just miss it? The AHA provides an answer: 10 seconds. If you haven't felt a pulse in 10 seconds, stop searching and start rescuing. Where should you check for a pulse in an adult? Carotid artery Rationale: The most reliable and AHA-recommended place to check for a pulse in an adult is the carotid artery. Where should you check for a pulse in an infant? Give 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds Rationale: This child needs rescue breathing, not chest compressions. The correct rate for pediatric rescue breathing is 1 ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds. This equates to 12-20 breaths per minute. A child is gasping for breath but has a pulse rate of 100 per minute. The rescuers should: A child is not breathing but has a pulse rate of 50 per minute. The rescuers should: Start CPR beginning with compressions Rationale: A pulse rate 60 bpm is consistent with cardiac arrest in children. Therefore, CPR is required, starting with chest compressions.