1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
What is the first step of the Adult BLS Survey when approaching a collapsed patient?
Ensure scene safety before approaching the patient to prevent harm to rescuers and allow
effective care delivery.
Why is scene safety assessed before patient contact?
Unsafe environments can create additional victims and compromise the rescue effort.
What does CAB stand for in Adult BLS?
Compressions, Airway, and Breathing. The sequence prioritizes circulation through early chest
compressions.
The recommended chest compression rate for adults is _____ to _____ compressions per
minute.
100 to 120 compressions per minute.
What is the recommended compression depth for adults during CPR?
At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
Why should rescuers avoid compressing deeper than 2.4 inches?
Excessive depth may increase the risk of injury without improving outcomes.
What is complete chest recoil and why is it important?
Complete recoil allows the heart to refill between compressions, improving blood flow to vital
organs.
A patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally. What should be checked next?
Assess for a pulse for no more than 10 seconds.
Pulse assessment should take no longer than _____ seconds.
10 seconds.
What should be done if no pulse is detected within 10 seconds?
Begin high-quality CPR immediately.
What is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR with no advanced airway?
30 compressions to 2 breaths.
1
,1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
Why are interruptions in chest compressions minimized during CPR?
Interruptions decrease coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, reducing survival chances.
What is an AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator that analyzes rhythms and delivers shocks when indicated.
When should an AED be used during cardiac arrest?
As soon as it becomes available.
An AED arrives while CPR is ongoing. What should the team do?
Apply the AED promptly while minimizing interruptions in compressions.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Abrupt loss of heart function leading to absence of circulation and consciousness.
What is agonal breathing?
Abnormal gasping respirations that may occur during cardiac arrest and should not be
considered normal breathing.
Agonal gasps indicate adequate breathing. Explain.
False. Agonal respirations are ineffective and often indicate cardiac arrest.
What is the primary goal of chest compressions?
To circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and heart.
Why is early CPR critical in cardiac arrest?
It maintains perfusion to vital organs until definitive treatment can occur.
What is the purpose of activating the emergency response system?
To bring additional personnel, equipment, and advanced care resources.
Define high-quality CPR.
CPR with proper rate, depth, recoil, minimal interruptions, and avoidance of excessive
ventilation.
2
,1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
What does the Airway component of the ACLS Survey assess?
Airway patency and the need for airway management interventions.
Define airway patency.
An open airway that allows unobstructed airflow.
A patient's tongue is blocking airflow. Which ACLS Survey component addresses this?
Airway assessment.
What is assessed during the Breathing component of ACLS?
Respiratory effort, oxygenation, ventilation, and breath sounds.
Why is oxygen saturation monitored during ACLS care?
To assess oxygenation status and guide oxygen therapy.
What oxygen saturation range is generally targeted after ROSC?
Approximately 92-98%.
What is assessed during the Circulation component of ACLS?
Pulse, blood pressure, perfusion, cardiac rhythm, and hemodynamic status.
Define perfusion.
Delivery of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs.
What does ROSC stand for?
Return of Spontaneous Circulation.
ROSC stands for Return of Spontaneous _____.
Circulation.
Why is ROSC considered a major resuscitation goal?
It indicates restoration of effective blood circulation.
What is included in Differential Diagnosis during the ACLS Survey?
Identification of underlying causes contributing to instability or arrest.
3
, 1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
What does Exposure/Evaluation involve in ACLS?
Ongoing assessment, monitoring, history collection, and reassessment.
What is closed-loop communication?
Communication where instructions are acknowledged and confirmed by team members.
Why is closed-loop communication important during resuscitation?
It reduces misunderstandings and improves team performance.
A team leader gives a medication order and receives no response. What communication
problem exists?
Failure of closed-loop communication.
What is the role of the ACLS team leader?
Coordinate care, assign tasks, and monitor overall resuscitation quality.
Define cardiac output.
The amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute.
How do chest compressions generate cardiac output?
By mechanically compressing the heart and promoting blood flow.
What is coronary perfusion pressure?
Pressure that drives blood flow to the heart muscle during CPR.
Why is coronary perfusion pressure important?
Higher levels improve the likelihood of successful resuscitation and ROSC.
Complete chest recoil improves _____ perfusion pressure.
Coronary.
What is excessive ventilation during CPR?
Delivering breaths too rapidly or forcefully.
4
What is the first step of the Adult BLS Survey when approaching a collapsed patient?
Ensure scene safety before approaching the patient to prevent harm to rescuers and allow
effective care delivery.
Why is scene safety assessed before patient contact?
Unsafe environments can create additional victims and compromise the rescue effort.
What does CAB stand for in Adult BLS?
Compressions, Airway, and Breathing. The sequence prioritizes circulation through early chest
compressions.
The recommended chest compression rate for adults is _____ to _____ compressions per
minute.
100 to 120 compressions per minute.
What is the recommended compression depth for adults during CPR?
At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
Why should rescuers avoid compressing deeper than 2.4 inches?
Excessive depth may increase the risk of injury without improving outcomes.
What is complete chest recoil and why is it important?
Complete recoil allows the heart to refill between compressions, improving blood flow to vital
organs.
A patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally. What should be checked next?
Assess for a pulse for no more than 10 seconds.
Pulse assessment should take no longer than _____ seconds.
10 seconds.
What should be done if no pulse is detected within 10 seconds?
Begin high-quality CPR immediately.
What is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR with no advanced airway?
30 compressions to 2 breaths.
1
,1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
Why are interruptions in chest compressions minimized during CPR?
Interruptions decrease coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, reducing survival chances.
What is an AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator that analyzes rhythms and delivers shocks when indicated.
When should an AED be used during cardiac arrest?
As soon as it becomes available.
An AED arrives while CPR is ongoing. What should the team do?
Apply the AED promptly while minimizing interruptions in compressions.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Abrupt loss of heart function leading to absence of circulation and consciousness.
What is agonal breathing?
Abnormal gasping respirations that may occur during cardiac arrest and should not be
considered normal breathing.
Agonal gasps indicate adequate breathing. Explain.
False. Agonal respirations are ineffective and often indicate cardiac arrest.
What is the primary goal of chest compressions?
To circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and heart.
Why is early CPR critical in cardiac arrest?
It maintains perfusion to vital organs until definitive treatment can occur.
What is the purpose of activating the emergency response system?
To bring additional personnel, equipment, and advanced care resources.
Define high-quality CPR.
CPR with proper rate, depth, recoil, minimal interruptions, and avoidance of excessive
ventilation.
2
,1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
What does the Airway component of the ACLS Survey assess?
Airway patency and the need for airway management interventions.
Define airway patency.
An open airway that allows unobstructed airflow.
A patient's tongue is blocking airflow. Which ACLS Survey component addresses this?
Airway assessment.
What is assessed during the Breathing component of ACLS?
Respiratory effort, oxygenation, ventilation, and breath sounds.
Why is oxygen saturation monitored during ACLS care?
To assess oxygenation status and guide oxygen therapy.
What oxygen saturation range is generally targeted after ROSC?
Approximately 92-98%.
What is assessed during the Circulation component of ACLS?
Pulse, blood pressure, perfusion, cardiac rhythm, and hemodynamic status.
Define perfusion.
Delivery of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs.
What does ROSC stand for?
Return of Spontaneous Circulation.
ROSC stands for Return of Spontaneous _____.
Circulation.
Why is ROSC considered a major resuscitation goal?
It indicates restoration of effective blood circulation.
What is included in Differential Diagnosis during the ACLS Survey?
Identification of underlying causes contributing to instability or arrest.
3
, 1000 Flashcards Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Exam
What does Exposure/Evaluation involve in ACLS?
Ongoing assessment, monitoring, history collection, and reassessment.
What is closed-loop communication?
Communication where instructions are acknowledged and confirmed by team members.
Why is closed-loop communication important during resuscitation?
It reduces misunderstandings and improves team performance.
A team leader gives a medication order and receives no response. What communication
problem exists?
Failure of closed-loop communication.
What is the role of the ACLS team leader?
Coordinate care, assign tasks, and monitor overall resuscitation quality.
Define cardiac output.
The amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute.
How do chest compressions generate cardiac output?
By mechanically compressing the heart and promoting blood flow.
What is coronary perfusion pressure?
Pressure that drives blood flow to the heart muscle during CPR.
Why is coronary perfusion pressure important?
Higher levels improve the likelihood of successful resuscitation and ROSC.
Complete chest recoil improves _____ perfusion pressure.
Coronary.
What is excessive ventilation during CPR?
Delivering breaths too rapidly or forcefully.
4
