SAEM Emergency Medicine Exam ques on and
answers 2026/guaranteed pass
What are the top 3 causes of morbidity/mortality in acute chest pain?
ACS
pulmonary embolism
aor c dissec on
What is the cardioversion and defibrilla on joules?
cardioversion = 50-100 J
defibrilla on = 200 J
What is the most common EKG finding in a pulmonary embolus? What should you be on the
lookout for?
most common = sinus tachycardia
look for = "S1Q3T3" (large S wave in lead I + Q wave in lead 3 + T wave inversion in lead 3)
What should you worry about if a pa ent's EKG shows electrical alternans? What does this
look like?
cardiac tamponade! looks like alterna ng big and small spikes
Describe the basic evolu on of the EKG of a pa ent having a STEMI
1-normal
2- T waves become wide and tall
3- ST eleva on
4- Q waves and T wave inversion
5- Q waves persist but T wave normalizes
chest pain, weakness, nausea, fa gue
classic presenta on of ___________________
ACS!
pleuri c chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety
classic presenta on of ___________________
pulmonary embolism
, a pa ent with SOB is found on physical exam to have tachycardia, clear lung sounds, and a
swollen leg
classic presenta on of ___________________
pulmonary embolism
sudden on set severe chest pain that rips through to the back; unequal blood pressures on
PE
classic presenta on of ___________________
aor c dissec on
How does cardioversion work?
used to stop tachyarrhythmias --> the impulse is delivered at the peak of an R wave
(prevents going into v fib)
What are 5 indica ons for cardioversion?
1. ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
2. supraventricular tachycardias with hypotension
3. atrial fibrilla on
4. atrial fluFer
5. AVNRT
What are three indica ons for defibrilla on?
ventricular tachycardia without a pulse
ventricular fibrilla on
torsades de pointes without pulse
What are five indica ons for ICD?
1. hx of sudden cardiac death
2. Brugada syndrome
3. CHF pa ents with EF < 35% on max medical therapy
4. long QT syndrome
5. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
CPR should be conducted with chest compressions and breaths via bag mask in this ra o
30 chest compressions then 2 breaths
(if intubated then con nuous compressions and 1 breath every 6 seconds)
answers 2026/guaranteed pass
What are the top 3 causes of morbidity/mortality in acute chest pain?
ACS
pulmonary embolism
aor c dissec on
What is the cardioversion and defibrilla on joules?
cardioversion = 50-100 J
defibrilla on = 200 J
What is the most common EKG finding in a pulmonary embolus? What should you be on the
lookout for?
most common = sinus tachycardia
look for = "S1Q3T3" (large S wave in lead I + Q wave in lead 3 + T wave inversion in lead 3)
What should you worry about if a pa ent's EKG shows electrical alternans? What does this
look like?
cardiac tamponade! looks like alterna ng big and small spikes
Describe the basic evolu on of the EKG of a pa ent having a STEMI
1-normal
2- T waves become wide and tall
3- ST eleva on
4- Q waves and T wave inversion
5- Q waves persist but T wave normalizes
chest pain, weakness, nausea, fa gue
classic presenta on of ___________________
ACS!
pleuri c chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety
classic presenta on of ___________________
pulmonary embolism
, a pa ent with SOB is found on physical exam to have tachycardia, clear lung sounds, and a
swollen leg
classic presenta on of ___________________
pulmonary embolism
sudden on set severe chest pain that rips through to the back; unequal blood pressures on
PE
classic presenta on of ___________________
aor c dissec on
How does cardioversion work?
used to stop tachyarrhythmias --> the impulse is delivered at the peak of an R wave
(prevents going into v fib)
What are 5 indica ons for cardioversion?
1. ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
2. supraventricular tachycardias with hypotension
3. atrial fibrilla on
4. atrial fluFer
5. AVNRT
What are three indica ons for defibrilla on?
ventricular tachycardia without a pulse
ventricular fibrilla on
torsades de pointes without pulse
What are five indica ons for ICD?
1. hx of sudden cardiac death
2. Brugada syndrome
3. CHF pa ents with EF < 35% on max medical therapy
4. long QT syndrome
5. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
CPR should be conducted with chest compressions and breaths via bag mask in this ra o
30 chest compressions then 2 breaths
(if intubated then con nuous compressions and 1 breath every 6 seconds)
