ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR LIFE SUPPORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024

ADV ANCED CARDIOV ASCULAR LIFE SUPPORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024 According to a study in 1993, for every minute a patient experiences VT, asystole, or PEA, the risk of mortality increases by how much? - ANSWER 7 -10% CPR uses chest compressions to restore blood flow to important organs such as? - ANSWER The heart and brain 4 types of arrhythmias discussed - ANSWER - VT - PVT - PEA - Asystole What is ventricular tachycardia? - ANSWER Wide QRS tachycardia characterized by 3 or more consecutive PVC ~ 100 -200 BPM VT can lead to what? - ANSWER Ventricular fibrillation, systole, or cardiac arrest Causes of VT - ANSWER - Ischemia - Drug toxicity (digoxin) - Electrolyte abnormalities - Heart disease What is sustained VT? - ANSWER - Lasts for > 30 seconds - Symptomatic - Can progress to life threatening incident What is unsustained VT? - ANSWER - Brief and self -limited - Asymptomatic How can V fib lead to death? - ANSWER No electric activity in the heart -> no cardiac output -> cardiac arrest -> death What is V fib caused by? - ANSWER - Scar tissue: MI or cardiomyopathy - Irritants: CAD, electrolyte abnormalities, hormones - Electrocution Tx for V -fib - ANSWER - ACLS - Correct underlying cause - ICD What is PEA and asystole? - ANSWER Absence of detectable pulse and the presence of some other form of electrical activity other than VT or PVT Tx for PEA/asystole - ANSWER CPR -> airway control -> IV access -> reconfirm asystole with a second lead -> do NOT defibrillate patient with asystole because the parasympathetic discharge that occurs with defibrillation reduces the change of ROSC and worse ns outcomes Are the following recommended for PEA/asystole? Epinephrine Vasopressin Atropine - ANSWER Epinephrine is recommended; vasopressin and atropine are not In patients with PEA/asystole we must treat the underlying cause, which may include: - ANSWER - Hypovolemia - Hypoxia - Acidosis - Hyper/hypokalemia