ACLS Principles Flashcard 18
Rationale
B. Rationale: A flat line is not a diagnosis, and it can be due to various things besides cardiac arrest, such as a technical problem or operator failure. Your role here is to determine whether the patient is indeed in cardiac arrest. When you encounter a flatline rhythm, check for loose leads, the signal gain of the defibrillator, or if the defibrillator has power.
Question
Your team is treating a patient that is pulseless and occasionally gasping. You are assigned the monitor/defibrillator role and have hooked the patient to a defibrillator. The monitor shows a flatline rhythm. In your role, what is the next course of action?
a. Replace the defibrillator with a new one.
b. Check for loose leads.
c. Defibrillate.
d. Perform a precordial thump.
Answer
b. Check for loose leads.
Rationale
A. Rationale: There are four rhythms of cardiac arrest: ventricular fibrillation (VF), pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT), pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and asystole. Only pulseless ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are shockable.
Question
Your team leader asks you to defibrillate the patient in cardiac arrest if necessary. Which of the following are shockable cardiac arrest rhythms?
a. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation
b. Pulseless electrical activity and atrial fibrillation
c. Asystole only
d. Asystole and pulseless ventricular tachycardia
Answer
a. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation