GUIDE 2026 ACUTE CARDIAC CONDITIONS
AND CLINICAL DECISION MAKING
◉ The AED gives "no shock" message to a patient who is in cardiac
arrest. You should:
Answer: Resume chest compressions
◉ What is the maximum amount of time that should be spent
checking for spontaneous breathing in an unresponsive child?
Answer: 10 seconds
◉ When performing CPR on an adult, you should compress the chest
to a depth of ___ at a rate of ___.
Answer: 2.0-2.4 in, 100-150BPM
◉ What is the appropriate compression to ventilation ratio for adult
two-rescuer CPR?
Answer: 30:2
◉ When checking for a pulse in an infant, which artery should you
palpate?
,Answer: Brachial
◉ When performing CPR on an adult or child, you should reassess
the patient for return of respirations/circulation every ____ minutes.
Answer: 2
◉ What is the preferred method of removing a foreign body in an
unresponsive child?
Answer: Chest compressions
◉ Cardiogenic shock is caused by:
Answer: Inadequate function of the heart muscle
◉ Pericardial effusion
Answer: Collection of fluid between the pericardial sac and the
myocardium
◉ Cardiac tamponade
Answer: Occurs when blood leaks into the space between the
pericardium and the pericardial sac
◉ Signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade:
, Answer: Beck triad: the presence of jugular vein distention, muffled
heart sounds, and a narrowing pulse pressure where the systolic and
diastolic blood pressures start to merge.
◉ Signs of cardiogenic shock:
Answer: -Skin may be cool, clammy, and ashen
-High BP
-Rapid, shallow breathing
-Weak, irregular pulse
-Anxiety, nausea
◉ You arrive on scene to find a conscious 58YOF sitting up and
reporting severe chest pain and SOB. She is anxious and "feels like
she's going to die." Her skin is pale, cool, and clammy and her pulse
is rapid, weak, and irregular. Her breathing is labored, with a RR of
28 breaths/min. Her SpO2 is 90%. Lung sounds show crackles in all
fields, and BP is 92/60 mmHg. What is your differential diagnosis of
the patient?
Answer: Cardiogenic shock
◉ The heart is divided down the middle into left and right sides by
the:
Answer: Septum