EPALS Exam 2025 Questions and Answers
Paediatric airway differences - ANS - airway proportionately narrower
- head larger so flexes on the neck and can cause partial obstruction
- small mouth but large tongue
- preferential nasal breather up to 6 months
- higher larynx (creates sharp angle)
Paediatric breathing differences - ANS - small resting lung volume so low o2 reserve
- relies on diaphragm more than muscles
Paediatric circulation differences - ANS Circulating vol newborn = 80 ml/ kg
Decreases to around 60-70ml/kg in adulthood
MAP more accurate than systolic BP
Strider - ANS upper airway narrowing or obstruction, loud-high pitched breath sound
Wheezing - ANS A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on
expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in
asthma and bronchiolitis.
grunting - ANS An "uh" sound heard during exhalation; reflects the child's attempt to keep
the alveoli open; a sign of increased work of breathing.
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, 5 categories of shock - ANS - Hypovolemic
- Cardiogenic
- Distributive
- Obstructive
- Dissociative
distributive shock - ANS Inadequate distribution of blood, flow insufficient for the demand of
the tissues. Eg - anaphylaxis, sepsis
Obstructive shock - ANS Shock that occurs when there is a block to blood flow in the heart or
great vessels, causing an insufficient blood supply to the body's tissues. Eg cardiac tamponade,
tension pneumothorax
Dissociative shock - ANS Something that does not allow O2 to reach the cells. Eg: CO
posioning and anaemia
Cardiac output - ANS heart rate x stroke volume
Central pulse points - ANS Carotid, femoral and brachial
COMPARE THESE WITH PERIPHERAL (RADIAL)
How much fluid can be lost before hypotension occurs - ANS 40%
Inadequate renal perfusion - ANS < 2ml/kg/hr in infants
< 1ml/kg/hr in children older than 1
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Paediatric airway differences - ANS - airway proportionately narrower
- head larger so flexes on the neck and can cause partial obstruction
- small mouth but large tongue
- preferential nasal breather up to 6 months
- higher larynx (creates sharp angle)
Paediatric breathing differences - ANS - small resting lung volume so low o2 reserve
- relies on diaphragm more than muscles
Paediatric circulation differences - ANS Circulating vol newborn = 80 ml/ kg
Decreases to around 60-70ml/kg in adulthood
MAP more accurate than systolic BP
Strider - ANS upper airway narrowing or obstruction, loud-high pitched breath sound
Wheezing - ANS A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on
expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in
asthma and bronchiolitis.
grunting - ANS An "uh" sound heard during exhalation; reflects the child's attempt to keep
the alveoli open; a sign of increased work of breathing.
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, 5 categories of shock - ANS - Hypovolemic
- Cardiogenic
- Distributive
- Obstructive
- Dissociative
distributive shock - ANS Inadequate distribution of blood, flow insufficient for the demand of
the tissues. Eg - anaphylaxis, sepsis
Obstructive shock - ANS Shock that occurs when there is a block to blood flow in the heart or
great vessels, causing an insufficient blood supply to the body's tissues. Eg cardiac tamponade,
tension pneumothorax
Dissociative shock - ANS Something that does not allow O2 to reach the cells. Eg: CO
posioning and anaemia
Cardiac output - ANS heart rate x stroke volume
Central pulse points - ANS Carotid, femoral and brachial
COMPARE THESE WITH PERIPHERAL (RADIAL)
How much fluid can be lost before hypotension occurs - ANS 40%
Inadequate renal perfusion - ANS < 2ml/kg/hr in infants
< 1ml/kg/hr in children older than 1
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
