ACLS Final Exam Questions & Answers
1.Dosing of epinephrine in the setting of VF/pVT and asystole/PEA
Answer 1 mg every 3-5 minutes
2.Dosing of amiodarone (first and second dose) in the setting of
cardiac arrest
Answer 300mg first dose
150mg second dose after 3-5 min
3.Dosing of lidocaine (first and second dose) in the setting of cardiac arrest-
Answer 1-1.5mg/kg first dose
0.5-0.75 mg/kg second dose, repeat in 5-10 min
4.What is the maximum dose of lidocaine?
Answer 3 doses or 3mg/kg
5.ROSC is typically signified by a PETCO2 of what?
Answer 40 mm Hg or more
6.The "Hs" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest
Answer 1. Hypovolemia
2. Hypoxia
,3.Hydrogen ions (acidosis)
4. Hypo/hyperkalemia
5. Hypothermia
7.The "Ts" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest
Answer 1. Tension pneumothorax
2. Tamponade, cardiac
3. Toxins
4.Thrombosis, pulmonary
5.Thrombosis, coronary
8.In the setting of cardiac arrest, once an advanced airway is in place, 1
breath should be given every seconds. Should chest compressions be
inter- rupted once an advanced airway is in place?
Answer 6-8 seconds (8-10 breaths/min) with continuous chest
compressions
9.If PETCO2 falls below , attempts should be made to improve
chest compressions
Answer 10
10.If intra-arterial pressure monitoring is being utilized during a
resuscitation attempt, if the diastolic pressure falls below mm Hg, attempts
should be made to improve chest compressions
Answer 20
,11.depth of adequate chest compressions
Answer 2 inches
12.rate of adequate chest compressions
Answer 100-120/min
13.If no advanced airway is in place, what is the ratio of chest
compressions to ventilations?
Answer 30:2
14.Shock energy that should be used on a biphasic machine for defibrillation
Answer 120-200 J, if recommended setting not known, use maximum
available
15.Shock energy that should be used on a monophasic machine for
defibril- lation
Answer 360J
16.In the setting of cardiac arrest, when should vasopressors be adminis-
tered?
Answer after the patient has failed CPR and defibrillation (shock-
refractory arrhyth- mias)
, 17.The only vasopressor recommended in the cardiac arrest algorithm
Answer epi- nephrine
18.Why is vasopressin no longer recommended in the cardiac arrest al-
gorithm as a vasopressor?
Answer no additional benefit and may increase delays in medication
administration
19.Are higher doses of epinephrine recommended in certain situations of
cardiac arrest? If so, what situations are higher doses of epinephrine
recom- mended?
Answer no; no benefit to support use, possible harm
20.When is endotracheal medication administration recommended?
Answer not rec- ommended unless unable to give meds IV or IO
21.Which medications can be administered via endotracheal tube?
Answer lidocaine, epinephrine, atropine, naloxone
22.What is different about the dosing of medications if endotracheal
medica- tion administration is performed?
Answer Typically ETT dose 2-2.5 higher than IV due to lower absorption
and dilution in 5-10mL of fluid is recommended
1.Dosing of epinephrine in the setting of VF/pVT and asystole/PEA
Answer 1 mg every 3-5 minutes
2.Dosing of amiodarone (first and second dose) in the setting of
cardiac arrest
Answer 300mg first dose
150mg second dose after 3-5 min
3.Dosing of lidocaine (first and second dose) in the setting of cardiac arrest-
Answer 1-1.5mg/kg first dose
0.5-0.75 mg/kg second dose, repeat in 5-10 min
4.What is the maximum dose of lidocaine?
Answer 3 doses or 3mg/kg
5.ROSC is typically signified by a PETCO2 of what?
Answer 40 mm Hg or more
6.The "Hs" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest
Answer 1. Hypovolemia
2. Hypoxia
,3.Hydrogen ions (acidosis)
4. Hypo/hyperkalemia
5. Hypothermia
7.The "Ts" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest
Answer 1. Tension pneumothorax
2. Tamponade, cardiac
3. Toxins
4.Thrombosis, pulmonary
5.Thrombosis, coronary
8.In the setting of cardiac arrest, once an advanced airway is in place, 1
breath should be given every seconds. Should chest compressions be
inter- rupted once an advanced airway is in place?
Answer 6-8 seconds (8-10 breaths/min) with continuous chest
compressions
9.If PETCO2 falls below , attempts should be made to improve
chest compressions
Answer 10
10.If intra-arterial pressure monitoring is being utilized during a
resuscitation attempt, if the diastolic pressure falls below mm Hg, attempts
should be made to improve chest compressions
Answer 20
,11.depth of adequate chest compressions
Answer 2 inches
12.rate of adequate chest compressions
Answer 100-120/min
13.If no advanced airway is in place, what is the ratio of chest
compressions to ventilations?
Answer 30:2
14.Shock energy that should be used on a biphasic machine for defibrillation
Answer 120-200 J, if recommended setting not known, use maximum
available
15.Shock energy that should be used on a monophasic machine for
defibril- lation
Answer 360J
16.In the setting of cardiac arrest, when should vasopressors be adminis-
tered?
Answer after the patient has failed CPR and defibrillation (shock-
refractory arrhyth- mias)
, 17.The only vasopressor recommended in the cardiac arrest algorithm
Answer epi- nephrine
18.Why is vasopressin no longer recommended in the cardiac arrest al-
gorithm as a vasopressor?
Answer no additional benefit and may increase delays in medication
administration
19.Are higher doses of epinephrine recommended in certain situations of
cardiac arrest? If so, what situations are higher doses of epinephrine
recom- mended?
Answer no; no benefit to support use, possible harm
20.When is endotracheal medication administration recommended?
Answer not rec- ommended unless unable to give meds IV or IO
21.Which medications can be administered via endotracheal tube?
Answer lidocaine, epinephrine, atropine, naloxone
22.What is different about the dosing of medications if endotracheal
medica- tion administration is performed?
Answer Typically ETT dose 2-2.5 higher than IV due to lower absorption
and dilution in 5-10mL of fluid is recommended
