Advanced Life Support (ALS) Exam Questions & Answers
How many Cardiac Arrests are discharged hospital? 8% (Out of hospital) 20% (In hospital)
What are the chain of survival steps? Early recognition & Call for help
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation (within 3 mins)
Post resuscitation Care (starts after ROSC)
Which rhythms are shockable? V-fib and Pulseless VT
During CPR how often should adrenaline be given? 3-5 mins
During CPR how often should amiodarone be given? 1 x after 3 shocks
Which rhythms are non-shockable? PEA/ASYSTOLE
What does SBAR stand for? Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
What does RSVP stand for? Reason
Story
Vital Signs
Plan
What are the stages of the chain of prevention? Education
Monitoring
Recognition
Call for help
Response
Talk through A-E assessment and what it involves. As per usual A-E.
causes of airway obstruction Blood
Vomit
CNS depletion
Foreign Body
Direct Trauma to face or throat
Epiglottitis
Pharyngeal Swelling
Laryngospasm
Bronchospasm
Bronchial Secretions
Blocked Trachy
What spinal level innervates the diaphragm? C3/4/5
, Advanced Life Support (ALS) Exam Questions & Answers
Who should be given oxygen? ALL critically ill patients 15L02 via non-rebreathe then titrate when stable.
Causes of VF? (9) ACS
Hypertensive heart disease
valve disease
Drugs (antiarrythmic drugs, TCAs, digoxin)
Inherited Disease (Long QT)
Acidosis]
Abnormal electrolyte concerntration (Ca2+, Mg+, K+)
Hypothermia
Electrocution
Features which indicate a high probability of arrhythmic Supine Syncope
syncope include.. Syncope during exercise
Syncope with no or only brief prodrome
repeated episodes of unexplained syncope
Syncope in those with FH with SD or cardiac condition inherited.
Define unstable angina Abrupt ↑ in severity, frequency (>3x/day), or duration of anginal attacks, angina
at rest. New onset of angina (w/in 2 mo.), with severe or frequent episodes).
Indicates severe CAD. May be only temporarily relieved by GTN.
What ECG changes may be seen in unstable angina? Normal, St changes (depression), non specific abnormalities (T wave inversion).
In which leads would you see anterior infarct? Which V1-V4 (LAD)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a anterior septal infarct? V5/6, I and aVL (V1-v4 also)
Which artery effected?
In which leads would you see an inferior infarct? Which II, III, aVF (RCA or circumflex)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a lateral infarct? Which V5/V6 and/or I and aVL (circumflex or diagonal branch of LAD)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a posterior infarct? Which ST depression in anterior chest leads (V1-V4). Dominant R wave in V1/V2 reflects
artery effected? posterior Q wave development.
RCA occlusion commonly. Dominant circumflex artery lesion.
What variables are in the cardiac score GRACE? age, signs of hear failure, heart rate, blood pressure, serum creatinine, ECG
changes, troponin and if cardiac arrest at presentation.
Name a bleeding risk score? (Context bleeding in ACS CRUSADE
leads to a worse prognosis)
How many Cardiac Arrests are discharged hospital? 8% (Out of hospital) 20% (In hospital)
What are the chain of survival steps? Early recognition & Call for help
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation (within 3 mins)
Post resuscitation Care (starts after ROSC)
Which rhythms are shockable? V-fib and Pulseless VT
During CPR how often should adrenaline be given? 3-5 mins
During CPR how often should amiodarone be given? 1 x after 3 shocks
Which rhythms are non-shockable? PEA/ASYSTOLE
What does SBAR stand for? Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
What does RSVP stand for? Reason
Story
Vital Signs
Plan
What are the stages of the chain of prevention? Education
Monitoring
Recognition
Call for help
Response
Talk through A-E assessment and what it involves. As per usual A-E.
causes of airway obstruction Blood
Vomit
CNS depletion
Foreign Body
Direct Trauma to face or throat
Epiglottitis
Pharyngeal Swelling
Laryngospasm
Bronchospasm
Bronchial Secretions
Blocked Trachy
What spinal level innervates the diaphragm? C3/4/5
, Advanced Life Support (ALS) Exam Questions & Answers
Who should be given oxygen? ALL critically ill patients 15L02 via non-rebreathe then titrate when stable.
Causes of VF? (9) ACS
Hypertensive heart disease
valve disease
Drugs (antiarrythmic drugs, TCAs, digoxin)
Inherited Disease (Long QT)
Acidosis]
Abnormal electrolyte concerntration (Ca2+, Mg+, K+)
Hypothermia
Electrocution
Features which indicate a high probability of arrhythmic Supine Syncope
syncope include.. Syncope during exercise
Syncope with no or only brief prodrome
repeated episodes of unexplained syncope
Syncope in those with FH with SD or cardiac condition inherited.
Define unstable angina Abrupt ↑ in severity, frequency (>3x/day), or duration of anginal attacks, angina
at rest. New onset of angina (w/in 2 mo.), with severe or frequent episodes).
Indicates severe CAD. May be only temporarily relieved by GTN.
What ECG changes may be seen in unstable angina? Normal, St changes (depression), non specific abnormalities (T wave inversion).
In which leads would you see anterior infarct? Which V1-V4 (LAD)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a anterior septal infarct? V5/6, I and aVL (V1-v4 also)
Which artery effected?
In which leads would you see an inferior infarct? Which II, III, aVF (RCA or circumflex)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a lateral infarct? Which V5/V6 and/or I and aVL (circumflex or diagonal branch of LAD)
artery effected?
In which leads would you see a posterior infarct? Which ST depression in anterior chest leads (V1-V4). Dominant R wave in V1/V2 reflects
artery effected? posterior Q wave development.
RCA occlusion commonly. Dominant circumflex artery lesion.
What variables are in the cardiac score GRACE? age, signs of hear failure, heart rate, blood pressure, serum creatinine, ECG
changes, troponin and if cardiac arrest at presentation.
Name a bleeding risk score? (Context bleeding in ACS CRUSADE
leads to a worse prognosis)
