AHA ACLS REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is your priority in care for a pulseless patient? - Answers - Compressions
What is the compression to ventilation ratio for the pulseless pt without advanced
airway? - Answers - 30:2
How soon should compressions be started in the pulseless pt? How long should the
pulse check take? - Answers - Within 10 seconds
What is the maximum off chest time for the pulseless pt?
A common error in CPR is... - Answers - <10 seconds; too much time off chest
How often do we switch CPR compressors? - Answers - Every 2 min
If your defib/AED is not functioning/analyzing properly, what is your priority while
someone troubleshoots it? - Answers - Compressions
How do you know how much air to ventilate your patient? What happens if you over-
ventilate your pt? - Answers - Risk of emesis, aspiration, and increased intrathoracic
pressure
What is included in the BLS survey? - Answers - Effective CPR and early defib
How often can you defibrillate a pt? What rhythms can be defibrillated? - Answers -
Every 2 min. Can defibrillate VT, VF, and Torsades w/pulse
When suctioning an ET tube, should you apply suction on insertion or suction catheter
on withdrawal? For how long should you apply suction? - Answers - On withdrawal for
10 seconds
What is the best way to confirm adequacy of CPR? What reading is goal during CPR? -
Answers - Waveform capnography; Goal is waveform >/= 10
After ROSC, what is the target PETCO2 reading? - Answers - 35-40 mmHg
When securing your ET tube, why would you NOT tie it around the back of the neck? -
Answers - Decreases venous return from the brain
What is the ventilation rate on the pulseless pt after advanced airway placement?
Should you pause compressions during ventilation with advanced airway? - Answers - 1
breath every 6-8 sec
No pause in compressions
, What is the preferred medication route for a pulseless pt? 2nd choice? - Answers -
Peripheral IV
Intraosseous
When during the CPR cycle should meds be given? - Answers - During compressions
(at start)
What is the FIRST drug all pulseless pts get? Dose? Can another drug be substituted
for it? Dose? - Answers - Epinephrine 1 mg IVP, given every 3-5min or vasopressin 40u
IVP (1 time dose). Follow w/20 cc saline flush. Can give epi every 3-5 minutes
What is the SECOND drug given for pulseless VT or VF rhythms? Dose? Frequency? -
Answers - Amiodarone 300mg IVP
Can repeat in 3-5min with 150mg
If amiodarone is not an option, what drug can be used as an antiarrhythmic? Dose and
frequency? - Answers - Lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push, repeat with 1/2 dose every 5-
10min to a max of 3mg/kg
What can increase the chances that defib will successfully convert VF? Why? - Answers
- Compressions immediately prior to shock, delivers blood to the myocardium
What is the compression rate and depth? - Answers - 100 per min, 2-3 inches deep
What is the ventilation rate for the adult pt with a pulse (even with advanced airway)?
Rate/min and frequency? What happens to the HR in a pt with severe hypoxia (or resp
arrest)? - Answers - 1 breath every 5-6 seconds (8-10 breaths/min)
It increases
Is cricoid pressure routinely recommended during cardiac arrest? - Answers - NO
What is the best way to confirm and monitor ET tube placement? - Answers - Waveform
capnography
What antiarrhythmic is recommended for polymorphic VT/torsades? Dose? - Answers -
Magnesium sulfate. Dose for PULSELESS Torsades: 1-2 G in 10 mL D5W; with a pulse
is IVPB
What diagnostic tool should we use to first screen stable SVT? Then, what is the
recommended tx for stable SVT? For unstable SVT? - Answers - Vitals (BP<90),
Oxygen (<94%), Monitor (ECG), IV, treatment
Stable: vagal maneuvers, adenosine
Unstable: synchronized cardioversion
What is the recommended tx for stable VT with a pulse?
What is your priority in care for a pulseless patient? - Answers - Compressions
What is the compression to ventilation ratio for the pulseless pt without advanced
airway? - Answers - 30:2
How soon should compressions be started in the pulseless pt? How long should the
pulse check take? - Answers - Within 10 seconds
What is the maximum off chest time for the pulseless pt?
A common error in CPR is... - Answers - <10 seconds; too much time off chest
How often do we switch CPR compressors? - Answers - Every 2 min
If your defib/AED is not functioning/analyzing properly, what is your priority while
someone troubleshoots it? - Answers - Compressions
How do you know how much air to ventilate your patient? What happens if you over-
ventilate your pt? - Answers - Risk of emesis, aspiration, and increased intrathoracic
pressure
What is included in the BLS survey? - Answers - Effective CPR and early defib
How often can you defibrillate a pt? What rhythms can be defibrillated? - Answers -
Every 2 min. Can defibrillate VT, VF, and Torsades w/pulse
When suctioning an ET tube, should you apply suction on insertion or suction catheter
on withdrawal? For how long should you apply suction? - Answers - On withdrawal for
10 seconds
What is the best way to confirm adequacy of CPR? What reading is goal during CPR? -
Answers - Waveform capnography; Goal is waveform >/= 10
After ROSC, what is the target PETCO2 reading? - Answers - 35-40 mmHg
When securing your ET tube, why would you NOT tie it around the back of the neck? -
Answers - Decreases venous return from the brain
What is the ventilation rate on the pulseless pt after advanced airway placement?
Should you pause compressions during ventilation with advanced airway? - Answers - 1
breath every 6-8 sec
No pause in compressions
, What is the preferred medication route for a pulseless pt? 2nd choice? - Answers -
Peripheral IV
Intraosseous
When during the CPR cycle should meds be given? - Answers - During compressions
(at start)
What is the FIRST drug all pulseless pts get? Dose? Can another drug be substituted
for it? Dose? - Answers - Epinephrine 1 mg IVP, given every 3-5min or vasopressin 40u
IVP (1 time dose). Follow w/20 cc saline flush. Can give epi every 3-5 minutes
What is the SECOND drug given for pulseless VT or VF rhythms? Dose? Frequency? -
Answers - Amiodarone 300mg IVP
Can repeat in 3-5min with 150mg
If amiodarone is not an option, what drug can be used as an antiarrhythmic? Dose and
frequency? - Answers - Lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push, repeat with 1/2 dose every 5-
10min to a max of 3mg/kg
What can increase the chances that defib will successfully convert VF? Why? - Answers
- Compressions immediately prior to shock, delivers blood to the myocardium
What is the compression rate and depth? - Answers - 100 per min, 2-3 inches deep
What is the ventilation rate for the adult pt with a pulse (even with advanced airway)?
Rate/min and frequency? What happens to the HR in a pt with severe hypoxia (or resp
arrest)? - Answers - 1 breath every 5-6 seconds (8-10 breaths/min)
It increases
Is cricoid pressure routinely recommended during cardiac arrest? - Answers - NO
What is the best way to confirm and monitor ET tube placement? - Answers - Waveform
capnography
What antiarrhythmic is recommended for polymorphic VT/torsades? Dose? - Answers -
Magnesium sulfate. Dose for PULSELESS Torsades: 1-2 G in 10 mL D5W; with a pulse
is IVPB
What diagnostic tool should we use to first screen stable SVT? Then, what is the
recommended tx for stable SVT? For unstable SVT? - Answers - Vitals (BP<90),
Oxygen (<94%), Monitor (ECG), IV, treatment
Stable: vagal maneuvers, adenosine
Unstable: synchronized cardioversion
What is the recommended tx for stable VT with a pulse?
