A 39-year-old man's car broke down, stranding him out in the country for approximately 18 hours. The outside temperature is 23°F. When you arrive and assess the man, you determine that he is pulseless and apneic; his core body temperature is estimated to be below 86°F. CPR is immediately initiated and the man is loaded into the ambulance quickly. The ECG reveals ventricular fibrillation. How should you proceed with the treatment of this patient?

Question

A) Give a single monophasic shock at 360 joules, reassess the rhythm and pulse, continue CPR, place advanced airway, hyperventilate at 20 breaths/min, establish vascular access, give 300 mg of amiodarone, and provide rapid transport
B) Perform CPR for 2 minutes, give up to three stacked shocks, immediately resume CPR, reassess in 30 seconds, place advanced airway, ventilate at 8 to 10 breaths/min, establish vascular access, give a saline bolus, and provide rapid transport
C) Give a single shock, immediately resume CPR, place advanced airway, provide ventilations at 8 to 10 breaths/min with warm humidified oxygen if possible, establish vascular access, and provide rapid transport
D) Provide immediate defibrillation with maximum energy, reassess the rhythm and pulse, continue CPR, place advanced airway, give one breath every 3 to 5 seconds, establish vascular access, administer a vasopressor, and provide rapid transport

Answer 1

Answer: C) Give a single shock, immediately resume CPR, place advanced airway, provide ventilations at 8 to 10 breaths/min with warm humidified oxygen if possible, establish vascular access, and provide rapid transport