ACLS Final Exam questions with verified answers
2015 AHA recommendation for in-hospital cardiac arrest patients regarding
steroids Ans✓✓✓ AHA does not recommend for or against routine steroid
administration for patients; further studies needed
2015 AHA recommendation for out of hospital cardiac arrest patients regarding
steroids Ans✓✓✓ uncertain benefit; no recommendation
3 core measurements of Ustein Guidelines Ans✓✓✓ 1. rate of bystander CPR
2. time to defibrillation
3. survival to hospital discharge
4 causes of ST segment elevation Ans✓✓✓ 1. STEMI
2. Prinzemetal's angina
3. Pericarditis
4. Ventricular aneurysm
80% of in-patient cardiac arrests had abnormal vital signs up to _____ hours prior
to arrest Ans✓✓✓ 8
A suspected stroke patient should receive general assessment by the stroke team,
emergency physician, or another expert within how long of arrival? Ans✓✓✓ 10
minutes
,Adults with ROSC after out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest should have theurapeutic
hypothermia at what temperature and for what time? Ans✓✓✓ 32-34C (89.6-
93.2F) for 12-24hours.
After a person is found down and it is confirmed that they are unresponsive, how
long should a carotid pulse be checked? Ans✓✓✓ 5-10 seconds
After an amiodarone infusion has been given in the setting of tachycardia, it
should be followed with a maintenance infusion of 1 mg/min for the first _____
hours Ans✓✓✓ 6
After notifying 911, three initial steps for adult cardiac arrest Ans✓✓✓ 1. Start
CPR
2. Give oxygen
3. Attach monitor/defibrillator
(as soon as this is done, rhythm check should be performed)
After the endotracheal tube has been properly inserted, the endotracheal balloon
should be inflated to the minimum pressure required to prevent air leaks during
tidal volume ventilation with a bag, which usually requires less than how many
cc's of air? Ans✓✓✓ 10
Antiarrhythmic infusion options in the tachycardia algorithm Ans✓✓✓
procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol
Antiarrhythmics that could be considered in the setting of VF/VT Ans✓✓✓
amiodarone and lidocaine
,Antidote for benzodiazepines Ans✓✓✓ Flumazenil
Antidote for CCBs and BBs Ans✓✓✓ calcium or glucagon
Antidote for cocaine Ans✓✓✓ benzodiazepines
Antidote for insecticide Ans✓✓✓ pralidoxine
Antidote for local anesthetics Ans✓✓✓ lipid emulsions
Antidote for opioids Ans✓✓✓ Naloxone
Antidote for organophosphates Ans✓✓✓ Atropine
Antidote for TCAs Ans✓✓✓ sodium bicarbonate
Are higher doses of epinephrine recommended in certain situations of cardiac
arrest? If so, what situations are higher doses of epinephrine recommended?
Ans✓✓✓ no; no benefit to support use, possible harm
Are premixed bags (360mg/200mL) of amiodarone typically found in the code
cart? Ans✓✓✓ no; used in the ICU
At optimal pulmonary support, what is the goal PETCO2 and PACO2 during
resuscitation? Ans✓✓✓ PETCO2 35-40
PACO2 40-45
, Atropine dosing for bradycardia algorithm Ans✓✓✓ 0.5mg repeated every 3-5
min
Besides esophageal intubation, what are some other complications of
endotracheal intubation? Ans✓✓✓ -vomiting, aspiration, pneumonitis,
pneumonia
-bradycardia, larynogospasm, bronchospasm, apnea
-trauma to teeth, lips, vocal cords
-exacerbation of cervical spine injuries
BP should be kept in what range during administration of rtPA? Ans✓✓✓ SBP
180-230, DBP 105-120
Calcium is not typically used in the setting of cardiac arrest, except under what
circumstances? Ans✓✓✓ -beta blocker or calcium channel blocker overdose
-may be helpful in patients who have received high volume of blood products
(citrate in transfusions may bind calcium)
Consider this cause of cardiac arrest/PEA especially in patients with diabetes
and/or renal failure Ans✓✓✓ acidosis (hydrogen ion excess)
Consider this cause of cardiac arrest/PEA if a patient suddenly becomes
combative/acute change in mental status Ans✓✓✓ hypoxia (AMS may precede
any changes in oxygen tension)
2015 AHA recommendation for in-hospital cardiac arrest patients regarding
steroids Ans✓✓✓ AHA does not recommend for or against routine steroid
administration for patients; further studies needed
2015 AHA recommendation for out of hospital cardiac arrest patients regarding
steroids Ans✓✓✓ uncertain benefit; no recommendation
3 core measurements of Ustein Guidelines Ans✓✓✓ 1. rate of bystander CPR
2. time to defibrillation
3. survival to hospital discharge
4 causes of ST segment elevation Ans✓✓✓ 1. STEMI
2. Prinzemetal's angina
3. Pericarditis
4. Ventricular aneurysm
80% of in-patient cardiac arrests had abnormal vital signs up to _____ hours prior
to arrest Ans✓✓✓ 8
A suspected stroke patient should receive general assessment by the stroke team,
emergency physician, or another expert within how long of arrival? Ans✓✓✓ 10
minutes
,Adults with ROSC after out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest should have theurapeutic
hypothermia at what temperature and for what time? Ans✓✓✓ 32-34C (89.6-
93.2F) for 12-24hours.
After a person is found down and it is confirmed that they are unresponsive, how
long should a carotid pulse be checked? Ans✓✓✓ 5-10 seconds
After an amiodarone infusion has been given in the setting of tachycardia, it
should be followed with a maintenance infusion of 1 mg/min for the first _____
hours Ans✓✓✓ 6
After notifying 911, three initial steps for adult cardiac arrest Ans✓✓✓ 1. Start
CPR
2. Give oxygen
3. Attach monitor/defibrillator
(as soon as this is done, rhythm check should be performed)
After the endotracheal tube has been properly inserted, the endotracheal balloon
should be inflated to the minimum pressure required to prevent air leaks during
tidal volume ventilation with a bag, which usually requires less than how many
cc's of air? Ans✓✓✓ 10
Antiarrhythmic infusion options in the tachycardia algorithm Ans✓✓✓
procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol
Antiarrhythmics that could be considered in the setting of VF/VT Ans✓✓✓
amiodarone and lidocaine
,Antidote for benzodiazepines Ans✓✓✓ Flumazenil
Antidote for CCBs and BBs Ans✓✓✓ calcium or glucagon
Antidote for cocaine Ans✓✓✓ benzodiazepines
Antidote for insecticide Ans✓✓✓ pralidoxine
Antidote for local anesthetics Ans✓✓✓ lipid emulsions
Antidote for opioids Ans✓✓✓ Naloxone
Antidote for organophosphates Ans✓✓✓ Atropine
Antidote for TCAs Ans✓✓✓ sodium bicarbonate
Are higher doses of epinephrine recommended in certain situations of cardiac
arrest? If so, what situations are higher doses of epinephrine recommended?
Ans✓✓✓ no; no benefit to support use, possible harm
Are premixed bags (360mg/200mL) of amiodarone typically found in the code
cart? Ans✓✓✓ no; used in the ICU
At optimal pulmonary support, what is the goal PETCO2 and PACO2 during
resuscitation? Ans✓✓✓ PETCO2 35-40
PACO2 40-45
, Atropine dosing for bradycardia algorithm Ans✓✓✓ 0.5mg repeated every 3-5
min
Besides esophageal intubation, what are some other complications of
endotracheal intubation? Ans✓✓✓ -vomiting, aspiration, pneumonitis,
pneumonia
-bradycardia, larynogospasm, bronchospasm, apnea
-trauma to teeth, lips, vocal cords
-exacerbation of cervical spine injuries
BP should be kept in what range during administration of rtPA? Ans✓✓✓ SBP
180-230, DBP 105-120
Calcium is not typically used in the setting of cardiac arrest, except under what
circumstances? Ans✓✓✓ -beta blocker or calcium channel blocker overdose
-may be helpful in patients who have received high volume of blood products
(citrate in transfusions may bind calcium)
Consider this cause of cardiac arrest/PEA especially in patients with diabetes
and/or renal failure Ans✓✓✓ acidosis (hydrogen ion excess)
Consider this cause of cardiac arrest/PEA if a patient suddenly becomes
combative/acute change in mental status Ans✓✓✓ hypoxia (AMS may precede
any changes in oxygen tension)
