ACLS: ADULT CARDIAC ARREST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS RATED A+
Q: How is clinical unresponsiveness confirmed during a suspected cardiac
arrest? ✔️✔️ A: A patient in arrest will be completely non-reactive, with no
palpable pulse and either a total absence of breathing or ineffective, gasping
"agonal" breaths.
Q: Which specific cardiac rhythms are associated with a state of arrest? ✔️✔️
A:
Asystole: The absence of electrical and mechanical activity (flatline).
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): The monitor shows a rhythm, but there
is no corresponding physical pulse.
Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib): Disorganized electrical activity causing
the heart to quiver.
Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT): An organized, rapid rhythm
that is too fast to allow for productive pumping or a pulse.
Q: What is the primary clinical objective when treating a patient in cardiac
arrest? ✔️✔️ A: The ultimate goal of all interventions is the Return of
Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC), where the heart regains a functional, self-
sustaining rhythm capable of producing a pulse.
2. Immediate intervention -ANSWER ✔️✔️Call code/Activate EMS
Immediately begin CPR
Establish an airway and administer Oxygen
, Attach monitor/defibrillator, establish rhythm
High-Quality CPR is -ANSWER ✔️✔️Compression rate greater or equal to 100/min
Compress chest to depth of at least 2 inches
Allow complete chest recoil
Minimize interruptions
Avoid hyperventilation
Rotate compressor every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue
3. Shockable Rhythm? -ANSWER ✔️✔️PEA/Asystole - NO
Vfib or Vtach - YES
4. PEA/Asystole -ANSWER ✔️✔️If it is determined at any time that the patient is in
asystole or PEA, continue CPR, establish vascular access, administer Epinephrine
1 mg every 3-5 minutes.
Consider Advanced Airway with ETCO2 monitoring
Reevaluate the rhythm every 2 minutes and shock if the patient develops VT or
VF.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS RATED A+
Q: How is clinical unresponsiveness confirmed during a suspected cardiac
arrest? ✔️✔️ A: A patient in arrest will be completely non-reactive, with no
palpable pulse and either a total absence of breathing or ineffective, gasping
"agonal" breaths.
Q: Which specific cardiac rhythms are associated with a state of arrest? ✔️✔️
A:
Asystole: The absence of electrical and mechanical activity (flatline).
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): The monitor shows a rhythm, but there
is no corresponding physical pulse.
Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib): Disorganized electrical activity causing
the heart to quiver.
Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT): An organized, rapid rhythm
that is too fast to allow for productive pumping or a pulse.
Q: What is the primary clinical objective when treating a patient in cardiac
arrest? ✔️✔️ A: The ultimate goal of all interventions is the Return of
Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC), where the heart regains a functional, self-
sustaining rhythm capable of producing a pulse.
2. Immediate intervention -ANSWER ✔️✔️Call code/Activate EMS
Immediately begin CPR
Establish an airway and administer Oxygen
, Attach monitor/defibrillator, establish rhythm
High-Quality CPR is -ANSWER ✔️✔️Compression rate greater or equal to 100/min
Compress chest to depth of at least 2 inches
Allow complete chest recoil
Minimize interruptions
Avoid hyperventilation
Rotate compressor every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue
3. Shockable Rhythm? -ANSWER ✔️✔️PEA/Asystole - NO
Vfib or Vtach - YES
4. PEA/Asystole -ANSWER ✔️✔️If it is determined at any time that the patient is in
asystole or PEA, continue CPR, establish vascular access, administer Epinephrine
1 mg every 3-5 minutes.
Consider Advanced Airway with ETCO2 monitoring
Reevaluate the rhythm every 2 minutes and shock if the patient develops VT or
VF.
