A patient on a ward arrests in pulseless electrical activity. IV access is in place. What is the correct drug management?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Adrenaline 1 mg intravenously now, repeated every 3 to 5 minutes
- Step 1: PEA is a non-shockable rhythm, so defibrillation has no role.
- Step 2: For non-shockable rhythms Resuscitation Council UK advises adrenaline 1 mg as soon as IV access is available, then every 3 to 5 minutes.
Answer
Adrenaline 1 mg intravenously now, repeated every 3 to 5 minutes.
Why not the others: Amiodarone 300 mg intravenously, then adrenaline only after the fifth cycle of CPR: Amiodarone is for refractory shockable rhythms, not PEA. A shock first, with adrenaline given only after the third shock has been delivered: Shocks are only for VF and pulseless VT. Atropine 3 mg intravenously once, then continued CPR without any adrenaline: Atropine was removed from the cardiac arrest algorithm.
Practise more Resuscitation.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed PLAB 1 (GMC, international medical graduates) mock tests.
More Resuscitation questions
- A 62-year-old man is in ventricular fibrillation. He has received three shocks with uninterrupted high-quality CPR. Which drugs are given no…
- What compression depth, rate and ratio does Resuscitation Council UK advise for adult basic life support?
- An adult collapses with no pulse after a chest stab wound. There is tracheal deviation and absent breath sounds on the left. Which reversibl…
- A choking adult is conscious with an ineffective cough. What does Resuscitation Council UK advise first?
- Which Glasgow Coma Scale score applies to a man who opens his eyes only to pain, makes incomprehensible sounds and withdraws his limb from p…