ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question:
1. which anti-arrhythmic drugs can be used if prolonged QT
Answer:
only amiodarone; 150mg over 10 minutes, repeat if VT occurs follow by maintenance
infusion 1mg/min for first 6 hours
Question:
2. sinus bradycardia
Answer:
Question:
3. adenosine
Answer:
used in tachy; 6mg bolus followed by 20mL normal saline; 12mg can be used after 1-2
minutes
Question:
4. dopamine
Answer:
2nd line drug for symptomatic bradycardia use for hypotension with signs of shock; 2-20
mcg/kg per minute
Question:
5. reentry supraventricular tachycardia
Answer:
Question:
6. when do you consider cardioversion
Answer:
if persistent tachycardia is causing: hypotension altered mental status signs of shock chest
pain acute heart failure
Question:
7. magnesium sulfate
Answer:
use in cardiac arrest only if hypomagnesemia or torsades: 1-2g diluted in 10mL of D5W
use in torsades with a pulse or AMI with hypomagnesia: 1-2g in 50 to 100 mL of D5W
maintenance with 0.5g per hour infusion
Question:
8. what are the contraindications to fibrinolytics in ACS treatment
, Answer:
systolic > 180 diastolic > 100 right arm left arm systolic difference > 15 history of
structural central nervous system disease recent head/facial trauma stroke more than 3
hours or less then 3 months ago recent trauma, surgery or bleed any history of intracranial
hemorrhage bleeding, clotting problem or on blood thinners serious systemic disease
Question:
9. monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
Answer:
Question:
10. if you are in an unshockable rhythm arrest when do you give epi
Answer:
1mg epi every 3-5 minutes after 1st round of CPR
Question:
11. IF ACS patient has EKG showing ST elevation and symptoms are less than 12 hours
then what
Answer:
re-perfusion door to balloon 90 minutes door to needle 30 minutes
Question:
12. epinephrine
Answer:
in cardiac arrest: 1mg every 3-5 minutes; in bradycardia or hypotension: 2-10mcg/minute
infusion
Question:
13. lidocaine
Answer:
alternative to amiodirone in cardiac arrest: 1-1.5 mg/kg IV; for stable VT, wide complex
VT: 0.5 - 0.75 mg.kg every 5-10 minutes max of 3mg/kg
Question:
14. polymorphic ventricular tachycardia - aka torsades
Answer:
Question:
15. If ACS patient has EKG showing non ST elevation MI or high risk unstable angina then
what
Answer:
early invasive strategy? adjunctive treatment? -nitroglycerin; -heparin; -beta blockers;
-clopidogrel; -glycoprotein IIb / IIIa inhibitor
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question:
1. which anti-arrhythmic drugs can be used if prolonged QT
Answer:
only amiodarone; 150mg over 10 minutes, repeat if VT occurs follow by maintenance
infusion 1mg/min for first 6 hours
Question:
2. sinus bradycardia
Answer:
Question:
3. adenosine
Answer:
used in tachy; 6mg bolus followed by 20mL normal saline; 12mg can be used after 1-2
minutes
Question:
4. dopamine
Answer:
2nd line drug for symptomatic bradycardia use for hypotension with signs of shock; 2-20
mcg/kg per minute
Question:
5. reentry supraventricular tachycardia
Answer:
Question:
6. when do you consider cardioversion
Answer:
if persistent tachycardia is causing: hypotension altered mental status signs of shock chest
pain acute heart failure
Question:
7. magnesium sulfate
Answer:
use in cardiac arrest only if hypomagnesemia or torsades: 1-2g diluted in 10mL of D5W
use in torsades with a pulse or AMI with hypomagnesia: 1-2g in 50 to 100 mL of D5W
maintenance with 0.5g per hour infusion
Question:
8. what are the contraindications to fibrinolytics in ACS treatment
, Answer:
systolic > 180 diastolic > 100 right arm left arm systolic difference > 15 history of
structural central nervous system disease recent head/facial trauma stroke more than 3
hours or less then 3 months ago recent trauma, surgery or bleed any history of intracranial
hemorrhage bleeding, clotting problem or on blood thinners serious systemic disease
Question:
9. monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
Answer:
Question:
10. if you are in an unshockable rhythm arrest when do you give epi
Answer:
1mg epi every 3-5 minutes after 1st round of CPR
Question:
11. IF ACS patient has EKG showing ST elevation and symptoms are less than 12 hours
then what
Answer:
re-perfusion door to balloon 90 minutes door to needle 30 minutes
Question:
12. epinephrine
Answer:
in cardiac arrest: 1mg every 3-5 minutes; in bradycardia or hypotension: 2-10mcg/minute
infusion
Question:
13. lidocaine
Answer:
alternative to amiodirone in cardiac arrest: 1-1.5 mg/kg IV; for stable VT, wide complex
VT: 0.5 - 0.75 mg.kg every 5-10 minutes max of 3mg/kg
Question:
14. polymorphic ventricular tachycardia - aka torsades
Answer:
Question:
15. If ACS patient has EKG showing non ST elevation MI or high risk unstable angina then
what
Answer:
early invasive strategy? adjunctive treatment? -nitroglycerin; -heparin; -beta blockers;
-clopidogrel; -glycoprotein IIb / IIIa inhibitor
