AHA ACLS FINAL EXAM SET WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development of
which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to suspect
that improper BVM technique is being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture
Pneumothorax Answer
Explanation Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due
to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast
creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other
organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare
facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess
the situation. The healthcare provider performs which assessment first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
,Primary assessment
Rapid assessment
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider
should first perform a rapid assessment. A rapid assessment is a visual
survey to ensure safety, form an initial impression about the patient's
condition (including looking for life-threatening bleeding), and determine the
need for additional resources. This would be followed by a primary
assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask (BVM)
resuscitator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is obtained to
evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which arterial carbon dioxide
(PaCO2) value signifies adequate ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg
confirm adequacy of ventilation.
A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient
experienced cardiac arrest, and advanced life support was initiated. The
patient required the placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway
patency. Which statement indicates that the team performed high-quality
CPR?
,"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per minute to a
depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every 10 seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per
minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without pausing
compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per minute to a
depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without
pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per minute but
adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1 ventilation every 3 seconds
without pausing compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per
minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without pausing
compressions."
When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient who is in cardiac
arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously (100 to 120 per
minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial
oxygen saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these
findings as indicative of which condition?
Respiratory failure
Respiratory arrest
Cardiac arrest
Respiratory distress
Respiratory failure
, An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg) accompanied
by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of respiratory failure.
A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider use first to
clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions
Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5 back
blows to clear the obstruction.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of shortness of
breath. The patient has a long history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. Assessment reveals respiratory failure. Which action would be the
initial priority to address the respiratory failure?
Establishment of vascular access
Delivery of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
Initiation of capnography
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
CORRECT ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development of
which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to suspect
that improper BVM technique is being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture
Pneumothorax Answer
Explanation Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due
to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast
creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other
organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare
facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess
the situation. The healthcare provider performs which assessment first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
,Primary assessment
Rapid assessment
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider
should first perform a rapid assessment. A rapid assessment is a visual
survey to ensure safety, form an initial impression about the patient's
condition (including looking for life-threatening bleeding), and determine the
need for additional resources. This would be followed by a primary
assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask (BVM)
resuscitator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is obtained to
evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which arterial carbon dioxide
(PaCO2) value signifies adequate ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg
confirm adequacy of ventilation.
A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient
experienced cardiac arrest, and advanced life support was initiated. The
patient required the placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway
patency. Which statement indicates that the team performed high-quality
CPR?
,"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per minute to a
depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every 10 seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per
minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without pausing
compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per minute to a
depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without
pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per minute but
adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1 ventilation every 3 seconds
without pausing compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per
minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without pausing
compressions."
When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient who is in cardiac
arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously (100 to 120 per
minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial
oxygen saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these
findings as indicative of which condition?
Respiratory failure
Respiratory arrest
Cardiac arrest
Respiratory distress
Respiratory failure
, An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg) accompanied
by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of respiratory failure.
A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider use first to
clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions
Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5 back
blows to clear the obstruction.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of shortness of
breath. The patient has a long history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. Assessment reveals respiratory failure. Which action would be the
initial priority to address the respiratory failure?
Establishment of vascular access
Delivery of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
Initiation of capnography
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
