AED Flashcard
Rationale
B. Rationale: When ventricular fibrillation recurs, the healthcare provider must give another shock with the same or higher dose.
Question
After delivering a shock of 200 J to a patient in cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation, CPR is continued for 2 minutes, after which a rhythm check is performed. The ECG tracing exhibits ventricular fibrillation. What is your next course of action?
a. Shock again with a lower dose of 150 J.
b. Shock again with a higher dose of 250 J.
c. Resume CPR.
d. Give epinephrine.
Answer
b. Shock again with a higher dose of 250 J.
Rationale
B. Rationale: Defibrillation stuns the heart and briefly stops all electrical activity, including VF and VT.
Question
Defibrillation can restart the heart.
a. True
b. False
Answer
b. False
Rationale
A. Rationale: Critical goals in CPR are to 1) minimize interruptions of chest compressions and 2) early defibrillation. The best course of action is to continue CPR while attaching the AED to the patient.
Question
In the middle of the second cycle of CPR, an AED arrives. What is your next course of action?
a. Attach the AED to the patient while CPR is being performed.
b. Stop CPR and attach the AED to the patient.
c. Complete the second cycle of CPR before pausing CPR to attach the AED.
d. Any of the above
Answer
a. Attach the AED to the patient while CPR is being performed.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The AHA recommends a manual defibrillator if the provider’s skills are adequate for rhythm analysis because using the AED may cause prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Question
The AHA recommends continued use of an AED, even in the presence of a newly arrived defibrillator, because any delay between shocks should be minimized.
a. True
b. False
Answer
b. False
Rationale
B. Rationale: Biphasic defibrillators such as the biphasic-truncated exponential defibrillator or the rectilinear biphasic defibrillator are the latest technologies in cardiac defibrillation. Studies have shown that biphasic defibrillators have an 85% to 98% first-shock success. This is one of the reasons why the AHA recommends using biphasic over monophasic defibrillators.
Question
The preference of biphasic over monophasic defibrillators is due to which of the following observations?
a. Biphasic defibrillators are easier to operate than monophasic defibrillators.
b. Biphasic defibrillators have an increased first shock success rate of 98%.
c. Biphasic defibrillators deliver more energy than the selected dose.
d. Biphasic defibrillators are cost-effective and cheaper to produce.
Answer
b. Biphasic defibrillators have an increased first shock success rate of 98%.
Rationale
B. Rationale: Multimodal defibrillators in manual mode reduce the time of interrupted CPR. But there is an increase in the frequency of inappropriate shocks.
Question
What is a distinguishing flaw of multimodal defibrillators when used in manual mode?
a. Increases the time of interruptions in chest compressions
b. Increases the frequency of inappropriate shocks
c. Over-estimates the dose given
d. Under-estimates the dose given
Answer
b. Increases the frequency of inappropriate shocks
Rationale
C. Rationale: There are four cardiac arrest rhythms: (1) ventricular fibrillation, (2) pulseless ventricular tachycardia, (3) pulseless electrical activity, and (4) asystole. Pulseless electrical activity and asystole are nonshockable rhythms. Supraventricular tachycardia is not a cardiac arrest rhythm.
Question
Which of the following is a nonshockable cardiac arrest rhythm?
a. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
b. Ventricular fibrillation
c. Pulseless electrical activity
d. Supraventricular tachycardia
Answer
c. Pulseless electrical activity
Rationale
A. Rationale: The dose for biphasic shock is usually determined according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. But if they are unavailable, the provider should utilize the maximum available dosage. The appropriate first dose in monophasic shock is 360 J.
Question
Which of the following is true regarding the appropriate electrical dose for VF or pulseless VT:
a. If providing biphasic electrical shock and the dose is unknown, the provider should use the maximum dose available.
b. Monophasic dosing should proceed at 300 J for the first shock, then 360 J for the second and subsequent shocks.
c. A synchronized shock at 360 J should be delivered when utilizing monophasic energy.
d. Initially, a biphasic shock of 100 J should be given.
Answer
a. If providing biphasic electrical shock and the dose is unknown, the provider should use the maximum dose available.
Rationale
C. Rationale: Press the SYNC mode before looking for markers on the R wave to indicate sync mode.
Question
Which of the following steps is out of order when delivering synchronized cardioversion?
a. Turn on the defibrillator.
b. Attach the leads to the patient.
c. Find markers on the R wave to indicate sync mode.
d. Press SYNC.
Answer
c. Find markers on the R wave to indicate sync mode.