Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe:
A. the warning signs that occur shortly before a heart attack.
B. a group of symptoms that are caused by myocardial ischemia.
C. the exact moment that a coronary artery is completely occluded.
D. a severe decrease in perfusion caused by changes in heart rate.
B. a group of symptoms that are caused by myocardial ischemia.
You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. After applying high-flow oxygen, you expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is
cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular. You should:
A. move the nitroglycerin patch to the other side of his chest in case you need to apply the AED, keep him warm, and transport without delay.
B. immediately remove the nitroglycerin patch, apply the AED in case he develops cardiac arrest, and transport to the closest hospital.
C. remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.
D. ask him if the nitroglycerin patch he is wearing has improved his chest
pressure, complete your secondary assessment, and transport promptly.
C. remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.
Which of the following cardiac arrhythmias has the greatest chance of deteriorating into a pulseless rhythm?
A. sinus bradycardia
B. ventricular tachycardia
C. sinus tachycardia
D. extra ventricular beats
B. ventricular tachycardia
Which of the following is the MOST reliable method of estimating a patient's cardiac output?
A. Connect the patient to an electrocardiogram.
B. Determine the average diastolic blood pressure.
C. Assess the heart rate and strength of the pulse.
D. Listen to heart sounds with a stethoscope.
C. Assess the heart rate and strength of the pulse.
Cardiogenic shock following AMI is caused by:
A. hypovolemia secondary to severe vomiting.
B. a profound increase in the patient's heart rate.
C. decreased pumping force of the heart muscle.
D. widespread dilation of the systemic vasculature.
C. decreased pumping force of the heart muscle.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a middle-aged man who collapsed about 5 minutes ago. He is unresponsive, apneic, and
pulseless. Bystanders are present, but have not provided any care. You should:
A. perform five cycles of high-quality CPR and then apply the AED.
B. immediately apply the AED pads and analyze his cardiac rhythm.
C. perform two-rescuer CPR for 5 minutes and request ALS backup.
D. begin high-quality CPR and apply the AED without delay.
A. perform five cycles of high-quality CPR and then apply the AED.
A 40-year-old man is in cardiac arrest. Your partner is performing CPR. You are attaching the AED when the patient's wife tells
you that he has an automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD). The AED advises that a shock is indicated. What should you do?
A. Contact medical control and request permission to defibrillate.
B. Continue CPR and transport the patient to the closest appropriate hospital.
C. Avoid defibrillation as this will damage the patient's AICD.
D. Deliver the shock followed by immediate resumption of CPR.
D. Deliver the shock followed by immediate resumption of CPR.
When an electrical impulse reaches the AV node, it is slowed for a brief period of time so that:
A. the SA node can reset and generate another impulse.
B. blood returning from the body can fill the atria.
C. blood can pass from the atria to the ventricles.
D. the impulse can spread through the Purkinje fibers.
C. blood can pass from the atria to the ventricles.
Cardiac output may decrease if the heart beats too rapidly because:
A. a rapid heart beat causes a decrease in the strength of cardiac contractions.
B. the volume of blood that returns to the heart is not sufficient with fast heart rates.
C. there is not enough time in between contractions for the heart to refill completely.
D. as the heart rate increases, more blood is pumped from the ventricles than the atria.
C. there is not enough time in between contractions for the heart to refill completely.
Nitroglycerin is contraindicated in patients:
A. who have experienced a head injury.
B. with a systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg.
C. with a history of an ischemic stroke.
D. who have taken up to two doses.
A. who have experienced a head injury.
Your EMS team is performing CPR on a 60-year-old male in cardiac arrest. You connect the AED, push the analyze button, and receive a “no shock advised” message. You should:
A. immediately assess the patient's airway.
B. reanalyze the patient's cardiac rhythm.
C. determine if a palpable pulse is present.
D. perform CPR for 2 minutes and reassess.
D. perform CPR for 2 minutes and reassess.
Which of the following ways to help reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths is false?
A. early access
B. increased number of laypeople trained in CPR
C. nitroglycerin available for laypeople and EMTs to give on arrival
D. public access defibrillation
C. nitroglycerin available for laypeople and EMTs to give on arrival
Heart attack has three serious consequences. Which of the following is not one of the three?
A. sudden death
B. ventricular arrhythmia
C. cardiogenic shock
D. congestive heart failure
B. ventricular arrhythmia
If a pacemaker does not function properly, as when the battery wears out, the patient may experience syncope, presenting with a pulse less than:
A. 60 beats/min.
If you are en route with a conscious adult patient who is having chest pain and becomes unconscious, the first step is to:
A. check respirations.
B. check for a pulse.
C. stop the vehicle immediately.
D. get medical control's permission to use the AED.
