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Pulseless Flashcards

7 cards from real ACLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Pulseless flashcards as text

  1. A patient in refractory VF is suspected to have hypomagnesemia. Which drug and dose is recommended?

    Answer: Magnesium sulfate 1–2 g IV over 5–20 minutes

    Magnesium sulfate 1–2 g IV is indicated for torsades de pointes (polymorphic VT) and suspected hypomagnesemia-related VF.

  2. How is the adequacy of CPR best monitored in an intubated patient during cardiac arrest?

    Answer: Continuous waveform capnography (PETCO2)

    Continuous waveform capnography provides real-time feedback on CPR quality; rising PETCO2 toward ≥10–20 mmHg indicates improving perfusion.

  3. A patient with cardiac tamponade goes into pulseless electrical activity. What is the definitive treatment?

    Answer: Emergency pericardiocentesis

    Emergency pericardiocentesis relieves the tamponade and is the definitive treatment for PEA caused by cardiac tamponade.

  4. Which finding would most strongly suggest that ongoing resuscitation efforts should be terminated?

    Answer: No ROSC after 20+ minutes of ACLS with all reversible causes addressed

    Failure to achieve ROSC after prolonged ACLS with no reversible causes identified is a reasonable basis for considering termination of resuscitation.

  5. What is the correct ventilation rate during CPR for an adult patient with an advanced airway in place?

    Answer: 1 breath every 6 seconds (10/min)

    Once an advanced airway is placed, deliver 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min) without interrupting continuous chest compressions.

  6. During a cardiac arrest, sodium bicarbonate administration is most clearly indicated in which scenario?

    Answer: Suspected hyperkalemia or pre-existing metabolic acidosis

    Sodium bicarbonate may be beneficial in cardiac arrest with known or suspected hyperkalemia and in patients with severe pre-existing metabolic acidosis.

  7. A patient achieves ROSC after 18 minutes of CPR and remains comatose with no purposeful movement. Current ACLS guidelines recommend which temperature target?

    Answer: Maintain normothermia (36–37.5°C) with aggressive fever prevention

    Current evidence supports preventing fever (>37.5°C) in post-arrest comatose patients; strict TTM at 33°C vs. 36°C showed similar outcomes, and fever prevention is the primary goal.