ACLS AND DYSRHYTHMIA ARRHYTHMIA
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. ACLS: advanced cardiac life support; CPR plus drugs and defibrillation
2. When can you shock a patient?: Ventricular Fibrillation and Pulseless
Ventricular Tachycardia
3. What two rhythms are considered Non-shockable rhythms?: Asystole and
PEA
4. PEA stands for: pulseless electrical activity
5. How many Jules are used when shocking a patient?: 120-200 J
6. List the life saving drugs used in ACLS: 1. Epinephrine
2. Vasopressin
3. Amiodarone
7. Epinephrine: 1 mg every 3-5 minutes IVP
8. Vasopressin is used: to replace Epinephrine
9. Vasopressin: 40 units IVP
10. Amiodarone initial dose: 300 mg bolus
11. Amiodarone second dose: 150 mg IVP
12. H's of ACLS: hypovalemia, hypoxia, hydrogen ion (acidosis),
hyper/hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia
13. T's of ACLS: toxins, tamponade (cardiac), tension pneumothorax, thrombosis
1/7
, (pulmonary and coronary), trauma
14. Therapy of choice for ventricular tachycardias (e.g. VT with pulse, SVT,
A-flutter with rapid ventricular response) is: Synchronized Cardioversion
15. You should _____ a cardioversion patient with _____ before beginning:
sedate; IV midazolam
16. When does it become emergent to perform synchronized cardioversion?:
when the patient becomes hemodynamically unstable (e.g. shock)
17. Cardioversion initial energy should be: 50-100 J
18. Sinus bradycardia: SA node fires at a rate less than 60 bpm
19. Clinical manifestation of Sinus bradycardia: pale/cool skin, fatigue,
dizziness, chest pain, syncope
20. ECG characteristics of Sinus bradycardia: 1. HR is less than 60 bpm; regular
rhythm
2. P wave precedes each QRS complex
3. PR interval is normal
4. QRS complex duration and shape normal
21. Treatment of Sinus bradycardia: 1. IV atropine
2. Dopamine
3. Epinephrine
4. Transcutaneous pacing
22. Sinus tachycardia: Sinus node discharges at a rate of 101-200 bpm
23. Clinical manifestations of Sinus tachycardia: dizziness, dyspnea,
hypotension, angina,
24. ECG characteristics of Sinus tachycardia: 1. HR is 101-200 bpm; regular
rhythm
2/7
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. ACLS: advanced cardiac life support; CPR plus drugs and defibrillation
2. When can you shock a patient?: Ventricular Fibrillation and Pulseless
Ventricular Tachycardia
3. What two rhythms are considered Non-shockable rhythms?: Asystole and
PEA
4. PEA stands for: pulseless electrical activity
5. How many Jules are used when shocking a patient?: 120-200 J
6. List the life saving drugs used in ACLS: 1. Epinephrine
2. Vasopressin
3. Amiodarone
7. Epinephrine: 1 mg every 3-5 minutes IVP
8. Vasopressin is used: to replace Epinephrine
9. Vasopressin: 40 units IVP
10. Amiodarone initial dose: 300 mg bolus
11. Amiodarone second dose: 150 mg IVP
12. H's of ACLS: hypovalemia, hypoxia, hydrogen ion (acidosis),
hyper/hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia
13. T's of ACLS: toxins, tamponade (cardiac), tension pneumothorax, thrombosis
1/7
, (pulmonary and coronary), trauma
14. Therapy of choice for ventricular tachycardias (e.g. VT with pulse, SVT,
A-flutter with rapid ventricular response) is: Synchronized Cardioversion
15. You should _____ a cardioversion patient with _____ before beginning:
sedate; IV midazolam
16. When does it become emergent to perform synchronized cardioversion?:
when the patient becomes hemodynamically unstable (e.g. shock)
17. Cardioversion initial energy should be: 50-100 J
18. Sinus bradycardia: SA node fires at a rate less than 60 bpm
19. Clinical manifestation of Sinus bradycardia: pale/cool skin, fatigue,
dizziness, chest pain, syncope
20. ECG characteristics of Sinus bradycardia: 1. HR is less than 60 bpm; regular
rhythm
2. P wave precedes each QRS complex
3. PR interval is normal
4. QRS complex duration and shape normal
21. Treatment of Sinus bradycardia: 1. IV atropine
2. Dopamine
3. Epinephrine
4. Transcutaneous pacing
22. Sinus tachycardia: Sinus node discharges at a rate of 101-200 bpm
23. Clinical manifestations of Sinus tachycardia: dizziness, dyspnea,
hypotension, angina,
24. ECG characteristics of Sinus tachycardia: 1. HR is 101-200 bpm; regular
rhythm
2/7
