Defibrillation & Airway Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ECC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Defibrillation & Airway Management flashcards as text
Monophasic defibrillators deliver energy in one direction. What energy level is recommended for ALL shocks on a monophasic device during adult VF?
Answer: 360 J
For monophasic defibrillators, the recommended energy for adult VF/pVT is 360 J for all shocks due to lower efficacy compared to biphasic waveforms.
During bag-mask ventilation, a provider notices significant gastric distension. What is the MOST likely cause?
Answer: Ventilations are being delivered too fast or with too much volume
Excessive ventilation rate or tidal volume forces air into the esophagus and stomach rather than the lungs, causing gastric distension and aspiration risk.
A transdermal medication patch is located on the patient's chest where an AED pad should be placed. The correct action is to:
Answer: Remove the patch, wipe the area clean, then place the pad
Medication patches must be removed and the skin wiped before pad placement because patches can cause burns, arcing, and reduce defibrillation effectiveness.
A nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is contraindicated in which patient?
Answer: A patient with suspected basilar skull fracture
NPA is contraindicated in suspected basilar skull fracture because the device could inadvertently enter the cranial vault through disrupted bony structures.
Which waveform type found on a cardiac monitor is SHOCKABLE and should prompt immediate defibrillation?
Answer: Coarse ventricular fibrillation
Coarse ventricular fibrillation is a shockable rhythm; fine VF and pulseless VT are also shockable, while asystole and PEA are non-shockable.
When preparing to intubate during cardiac arrest, what is the maximum recommended time for a single intubation attempt before returning to BVM ventilation?
Answer: 10 seconds
Intubation attempts should be limited to 10 seconds to minimize interruption to chest compressions and prevent hypoxia during cardiac arrest.
Which of the following best describes the term 'hands-off time' in the context of defibrillation?
Answer: The total time chest compressions are paused for any reason including shock delivery
Hands-off time refers to all pauses in chest compressions (rhythm analysis, charging, shock delivery, and pulse checks), which should be minimized to maximize CPR fraction.