Cardiac Arrest Flashcard 1
Rationale
A. Rationale: The patient is likely in cardiac arrest. You must initiate high-quality CPR.
Question
A patient complaining of chest pain suddenly loses consciousness and stops breathing. You check and do not feel a pulse. What should be your next action?
a. Initiate high-quality CPR.
b. Monitor the patient and wait for EMS to arrive.
c. Give rescue breaths.
d. Drive the patient to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Answer
a. Initiate high-quality CPR.
Rationale
D. Rationale: The first 4 minutes of cardiac arrest are crucial for immediate defibrillation because the likelihood of survival for patients with sudden cardiac arrest is 80% if a shock is given immediately. Since this was a witnessed cardiac arrest, the rescuer can determine if the patient is still in this important window period. Therefore, an AED should be retrieved and applied with immediate defibrillation given. If there is someone else to assist, the first responder orders them to retrieve the AED instead while immediately initiating high-quality CPR.
Question
A patient has collapsed in front of you one stormy evening, and you are the only witness with no one to help you. You determine that she is in cardiac arrest. You have recalled the location of an AED not far from the incident. The paramedics are on their way, according to the 9-1-1 dispatcher you have immediately called. What is your next action?
a. Monitor the patient until EMS arrives.
b. Perform CPR.
c. Give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
d. Retrieve the AED and apply it immediately to the patient.
Answer
d. Retrieve the AED and apply it immediately to the patient.
Rationale
A. Rationale: The lay rescuer has 10 seconds after a witnessed collapse to determine if the patient is in cardiac arrest before activating EMS and initiating CPR.
Question
After a patient has collapsed, what is the allotted time for the lay rescuer to assess whether the patient is in cardiac arrest?
a. 10 seconds
b. 30 seconds
c. 1 minute
d. 5 minutes
Answer
a. 10 seconds
Rationale
B. Rationale: To check for responsiveness, the lay rescuer taps the patient’s shoulder with force and shouts, “Are you okay?
Question
How does the lay rescuer check for responsiveness in a patient that has suddenly collapsed?
a. Slap the patient’s cheeks.
b. Shout, “Are you okay?”
c. Elicit pain by using their knuckles to rub the patient’s sternum.
d. Pinch the patient’s fingernail bed.
Answer
b. Shout, “Are you okay?”
Rationale
D. Rationale: Increased survival rates of cardiac arrest patients rest on the quantity and the skills of trained members of the community.
Question
Survival rates of cardiac arrest patients in public depend largely on which one of the following?
a. The best doctors
b. The training of paramedics
c. Early transport to the hospital
d. Trained community members
Answer
d. Trained community members
Rationale
C. Rationale: Conditions that cause respiratory arrest, commonly asphyxiation, are the likely cause of sudden cardiac arrest in infants and children. In adults, however, cardiac arrest is usually a result of coronary artery disease.
Question
What is the most likely cause of sudden cardiac arrest in infants and children?
a. Cardiac arrhythmia
b. Coronary artery disease
c. Respiratory arrest
d. Trauma
Answer
Rationale
C. Rationale: Aspirin is a blood thinner that can improve blood circulation to the heart. A trained first aid responder can give aspirin. Morphine is also indicated for managing a heart attack, but a nurse or physician must administer it.
Question
What medication can you give to help the patient who is having a heart attack?
a. Acetaminophen
b. Morphine
c. Aspirin
d. Naloxone
Answer
c. Aspirin
Rationale
B. Rationale: Agonal gasps are abnormal breathing that represents the brainstem reflex action of a patient in cardiac arrest where the patient exhibits involuntary movements of drawing in the air. This breathing pattern heralds death and leads to apnea.
Question
Which of the following clinical signs is an indication of cardiac arrest?
a. Seizure
b. Agonal gasps
c. Cyanosis
d. Lividity
Answer
b. Agonal gasps
Rationale
B. Rationale: Heartburn symptoms can cause pain in the center of the chest that may sometimes seem similar to a heart attack.
Question
Which of the following medical conditions can mimic a heart attack?
a. Diarrhea
b. Heartburn
c. Migraine
d. Seizure
Answer
b. Heartburn
Rationale
C. Rationale: Coronary artery disease is the number 1 cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adults worldwide.
Question
Which one of the following medical conditions is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in an adult?
a. COPD
b. Illicit drug overdose
c. Coronary artery disease
d. Respiratory distress
Answer
c. Coronary artery disease