ACLS Final Exam Study Guide
Dosing of epinephrine in the setting of VF/pVT and asystole/PEA (Ans- 1 mg every 3-5 minutes
Dosing of amiodarone (first and second dose) in the setting of cardiac arrest (Ans- 300mg first dose 150mg second dose after 3-5 min
Dosing of lidocaine (first and second dose) in the setting of cardiac arrest (Ans- 1-1.5mg/kg first dose 0.5-0.75 mg/kg second dose, repeat in 5-10 min
What is the maximum dose of lidocaine?(Ans- 3 doses or 3mg/kg
ROSC is typically signified by a PETCO2 of what?(Ans- 40 mm Hg or more
The "Hs" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest (Ans-
- Hypovolemia
- Hypoxia
- Hydrogen ions (acidosis)
- Hypo/hyperkalemia
- Hypothermia
The "Ts" of reversible causes of cardiac arrest (Ans-
- Tension pneumothorax
- Tamponade, cardiac 1 / 3
- Toxins
- Thrombosis, pulmonary
- Thrombosis, coronary
In the setting of cardiac arrest, once an advanced airway is in place, 1 breath should be given every ______ seconds. Should chest compressions be interrupted once an advanced airway is in place?(Ans- 6-8 seconds (8-10 breaths/min) with continuous chest compressions
If PETCO2 falls below ______, attempts should be made to improve chest compressions (Ans- 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 (Ans- 20
depth of adequate chest compressions (Ans- 2 inches
rate of adequate chest compressions (Ans- 100-120/min
If no advanced airway is in place, what is the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations?
(Ans- 30:2
Shock energy that should be used on a biphasic machine for defibrillation (Ans- 120-200 J, if recommended setting not known, use maximum available
Shock energy that should be used on a monophasic machine for defibrillation (Ans- 360J 2 / 3
In the setting of cardiac arrest, when should vasopressors be administered?(Ans- after the patient has failed CPR and defibrillation (shock-refractory arrhythmias)
The only vasopressor recommended in the cardiac arrest algorithm (Ans- epinephrine
Why is vasopressin no longer recommended in the cardiac arrest algorithm as a vasopressor?(Ans- no additional benefit and may increase delays in medication administration
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
When is endotracheal medication administration recommended?(Ans- not recommended unless unable to give meds IV or IO
Which medications can be administered via endotracheal tube?(Ans- lidocaine, epinephrine, atropine, naloxone
What is different about the dosing of medications if endotracheal medication administration is performed?(Ans- Typically ETT dose 2-2.5 higher than IV due to lower absorption and dilution in 5-10mL of fluid is recommended
When can antiarrhythmics be considered in the setting of cardiac arrest?(Ans- use may be considered in patients with VF/VT who have failed high- quality CPR, shocks, and vasopressors
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