New Update 2023/2024 ACLS Final Exam Updated
2023-2024
According to a study in 1993, for every minute a patient experiences VT, asystole, or
PEA, the risk of mortality increases by how much? --------- Answer --------- 7-10%
CPR uses chest compressions to restore blood flow to important organs such as? -------
-- Answer --------- The heart and brain
4 types of arrhythmias discussed --------- Answer --------- - VT
- PVT
- PEA
- Asystole
What is ventricular tachycardia? --------- Answer --------- Wide QRS tachycardia
characterized by 3 or more consecutive PVC ~ 100-200 BPM
VT can lead to what? --------- Answer --------- Ventricular fibrillation, systole, or cardiac
arrest
Causes of VT --------- Answer --------- - Ischemia
- Drug toxicity (digoxin)
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Heart disease
What is sustained VT? --------- Answer --------- - Lasts for > 30 seconds
- Symptomatic
- Can progress to life threatening incident
What is unsustained VT? --------- Answer --------- - Brief and self-limited
- Asymptomatic
How can V fib lead to death? --------- Answer --------- No electric activity in the heart ->
no cardiac output -> cardiac arrest -> death
What is V fib caused by? --------- Answer --------- - Scar tissue: MI or cardiomyopathy
- Irritants: CAD, electrolyte abnormalities, hormones
- Electrocution
Tx for V-fib --------- Answer --------- - ACLS
- Correct underlying cause
- ICD
, What is PEA and asystole? --------- Answer --------- Absence of detectable pulse and the
presence of some other form of electrical activity other than VT or PVT
Tx for PEA/asystole --------- Answer --------- CPR -> airway control -> IV access ->
reconfirm asystole with a second lead -> do NOT defibrillate patient with asystole
because the parasympathetic discharge that occurs with defibrillation reduces the
change of ROSC and worsens outcomes
Are the following recommended for PEA/asystole?
Epinephrine
Vasopressin
Atropine --------- Answer --------- Epinephrine is recommended; vasopressin and atropine
are not
In patients with PEA/asystole we must treat the underlying cause, which may include: ---
------ Answer --------- - Hypovolemia
- Hypoxia
- Acidosis
- Hyper/hypokalemia
- Hypothermia
- Hypoglycemia
- Drug overdose
- Tamponade
- Thrombosis, coronary
- Tension pneumothorax
- PE
- Trauma
High quality CPR focuses on proper technique to ensure: --------- Answer --------- -
Adequate HR
- Depth of compression -> 100-200 beats/minute
- Full chest recoil after each compression (at least 2 inches)
- Avoidance of excessive ventilation
- Reduction in interruptions to increase compression fraction to 60% or above
Basic life support focuses on what? (Hint: CAB) --------- Answer --------- - Compressions
- CAB = circulation, airway, and breathing
T or F: everyone should do a pulse check when performing BLS --------- Answer ---------
False - limit pulse checks unless medical professional (check for 10 seconds and then
start compressions)
How should a healthcare professional execute BLS? --------- Answer --------- 30
compressions -->2 breaths until AED arrives
2023-2024
According to a study in 1993, for every minute a patient experiences VT, asystole, or
PEA, the risk of mortality increases by how much? --------- Answer --------- 7-10%
CPR uses chest compressions to restore blood flow to important organs such as? -------
-- Answer --------- The heart and brain
4 types of arrhythmias discussed --------- Answer --------- - VT
- PVT
- PEA
- Asystole
What is ventricular tachycardia? --------- Answer --------- Wide QRS tachycardia
characterized by 3 or more consecutive PVC ~ 100-200 BPM
VT can lead to what? --------- Answer --------- Ventricular fibrillation, systole, or cardiac
arrest
Causes of VT --------- Answer --------- - Ischemia
- Drug toxicity (digoxin)
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Heart disease
What is sustained VT? --------- Answer --------- - Lasts for > 30 seconds
- Symptomatic
- Can progress to life threatening incident
What is unsustained VT? --------- Answer --------- - Brief and self-limited
- Asymptomatic
How can V fib lead to death? --------- Answer --------- No electric activity in the heart ->
no cardiac output -> cardiac arrest -> death
What is V fib caused by? --------- Answer --------- - Scar tissue: MI or cardiomyopathy
- Irritants: CAD, electrolyte abnormalities, hormones
- Electrocution
Tx for V-fib --------- Answer --------- - ACLS
- Correct underlying cause
- ICD
, What is PEA and asystole? --------- Answer --------- Absence of detectable pulse and the
presence of some other form of electrical activity other than VT or PVT
Tx for PEA/asystole --------- Answer --------- CPR -> airway control -> IV access ->
reconfirm asystole with a second lead -> do NOT defibrillate patient with asystole
because the parasympathetic discharge that occurs with defibrillation reduces the
change of ROSC and worsens outcomes
Are the following recommended for PEA/asystole?
Epinephrine
Vasopressin
Atropine --------- Answer --------- Epinephrine is recommended; vasopressin and atropine
are not
In patients with PEA/asystole we must treat the underlying cause, which may include: ---
------ Answer --------- - Hypovolemia
- Hypoxia
- Acidosis
- Hyper/hypokalemia
- Hypothermia
- Hypoglycemia
- Drug overdose
- Tamponade
- Thrombosis, coronary
- Tension pneumothorax
- PE
- Trauma
High quality CPR focuses on proper technique to ensure: --------- Answer --------- -
Adequate HR
- Depth of compression -> 100-200 beats/minute
- Full chest recoil after each compression (at least 2 inches)
- Avoidance of excessive ventilation
- Reduction in interruptions to increase compression fraction to 60% or above
Basic life support focuses on what? (Hint: CAB) --------- Answer --------- - Compressions
- CAB = circulation, airway, and breathing
T or F: everyone should do a pulse check when performing BLS --------- Answer ---------
False - limit pulse checks unless medical professional (check for 10 seconds and then
start compressions)
How should a healthcare professional execute BLS? --------- Answer --------- 30
compressions -->2 breaths until AED arrives
